A powerful new sculpture celebrating te reo Māori, Matariki and the enduring strength of Māori storytelling has been unveiled on Wellington’s waterfront, marking a historic milestone for the Wellington Writers Walk.
The installation is the first sculpture on the Writers Walk to feature te reo Māori and honours He Karakia mō Puanga mā Matariki, a work gifted to the people of Wellington by Ben Ngaia (Te Āti Awa).
The unveiling took place at Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, where the sound of pūkaea and conch shells echoed across the waterfront as writers, mana whenua, arts organisations and supporters gathered to celebrate the occasion.
The blessing was led by Matiu Jennings, while Te Karanga O Te Tui Marino presented the karakia before the ceremony concluded with waiata, reflecting the kaupapa of unity, belonging and whanaungatanga that underpins the installation.
The new sculpture recognises the significance of Puanga and Matariki as a time of remembrance, renewal and hope. Its message encourages people to reflect on those who have gone before while looking forward to the future with a shared commitment to one another and to the whenua.
The project represents a close partnership between the Wellington Writers Walk and Te Ātiawa/Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, supported by Wellington City Council and a wide network of community donors and organisations.
Designed by David Hakaraia (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Paoa), with landscape design by Tama Whiting (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), the sculpture sits among native plantings between Te Papa and the waterfront promenade, overlooking Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
The installation has been designed as a place of quiet reflection where visitors can pause to engage with the karakia and its deeper meaning. It is also the first Writers Walk sculpture to feature backlit lettering, allowing the work to take on a different presence after dark.
The accompanying English contextualisation helps visitors understand the significance of the karakia while preserving the integrity and prominence of the original te reo Māori text.
The Wellington Writers Walk has become one of the capital’s most recognised public art attractions. Established more than two decades ago, it now features 24 sculptures and plaques stretching from Kumutoto Stream to Oriental Bay, celebrating writers whose lives and work have shaped New Zealand’s literary landscape.
The addition of a te reo Māori installation reflects the growing recognition of te ao Māori within public spaces and the importance of ensuring Māori language, literature and cultural narratives are visible and celebrated throughout Aotearoa.
The project has also received national recognition, with the Wellington Writers Walk recently named a finalist in the 2026 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards, acknowledging the contribution of volunteers who have helped grow the initiative over the past 25 years.
As visitors gather on the waterfront during Matariki and throughout the year, the new sculpture offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with the values of whakapapa, hope, community and the enduring power of te reo Māori.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Matariki #Puanga #TeReoMāori #WellingtonWritersWalk #BenNgaia #TeĀtiAwa #TeWharewaka #PublicArt #Whakapapa #Whanaungatanga #TeAoMāori #Pōneke #Aotearoa #SEO
