Walk book reveals Māori art in central city

Māori artworks hidden in plain sight on the streets of central Auckland have been revealed in a new book and app created by Auckland Council’s Māori designer, Olivia Haddon who works in the Auckland Design Office.

Olivia Haddon from Ngāti Wai says Te Paparahi Toi Māori was a labour of love that arose from her wanting to give substance to the talk of celebrating the city's unique identity.

She identified 60 features, sculptures and artworks made by or in collaboration with Māori, such as the tukutuku panels upstairs at the Ellen Melville Centre.

"It was gifted to the centre on its opening by Eruera and Amiria Stirling and it was made by Ngāti Porou weavers. During the recent upgrade of the facilities and the return of the space to a public hall, the Ngāti Whātua weaving group were able to restore these panels," Ms Haddon says.

Other favourites include the Selwyn Muru Waharoa on Aotea Square, and even the Nelson St cycleway Te Ara I Whiti has a Māori dimension, with its pinkness inspired by the colour of new cut tōtara.

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