AttheFootoftheMaunga

At the Foot of the Maunga is part of Auckland Arts Festival’s Whānui programme.

The project has seen an exchange of ideas between the neighbouring suburbs of Tāmaki and Maungakiekie with large-scale installations created within the communities. These installations are now to be displayed in Onehunga and Panmure with an exchange at the foot of Mt Smart, formerly known as Mt Rarotonga.

At the Foot of the Maunga hopes to inspire a new voyage, connecting communities through history, art and kōrero, and encourage us all to take guardianship of our land, our sea and environment.

In association with TGTB Charitable Trust and led by artists Bobby MacDonald and Chantel Matthews, a series of workshops was held to to engage and invite the community to come along and assist in the making of these sculptural installations. Waka ā Hapori was created in Panmure and will be presented in Onehunga, Te Ipu Kai was created in Onehunga and will be presented in Panmure.

Waka ā Hapori (Community Waka)

A sculpture installation led by artist Chantel Matthews
The sculpture is a waka tētē (fishing canoe) inspired by traditions of trading at ports and the transportation of people and goods along the rivers.
The workshops included creating fish scales made from recycled milk bottles which adorn the waka.

Te Ipu Kai (Food Bowl)

Led by artist Bobby MacDonald and supported by The 312 Hub
This sculpture was informed as part of a Hikoiā te Korero where participants cycled around Onehunga Bay, Manukanuka o Hoturoa (Manukau Harbour) and Kura a Maki (Mount Smart / Rarotonga) as a way to share the kōrero o nehera (stories of the past) by breathing life into those spaces.
The workshops created plywood designs of kai moana (seafood) that was once found in Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa (Manukau Harbour).