Collaborations by Māori artists, poets, musicians and animators will be projected on to the Wellington harbour lagoon from tomorrow in an extraordinary feat of art and engineering.

Mana Moana was curated for Matariki by Massey University School of Art staff members Rachel Rakena and Michael Bridgman, working with producers Storybox.

Five short films exploring themes of ocean, migration and diaspora will be projected onto a man made mist arising from the water to create a screen that gives the illusion of images appearing from the darkness and floating on water.

Among those involved are painter Robyn Kahukiwa, animator Johnson Witehira, poet Karlo Mila, musicians Paddy Free and Warren Maxwell and others.

Rakena says it's a special event.

"I've had work on a screen like this four years ago and I was captured by it. I really wanted to make work for it and it fits the kaupapa, Mana Moana, and to actually project on the water is exciting," she says.

Mana Moana will run nightly from tomorrow until next Wednesday from 6 to 9pm at the Wellington Harbour lagoon as part of Wellington City Council's Matariki ki Pōneke 2019.

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