Tena Ko Te Tumanako Toku Iwi

‘Tena Ko Te Tumanako Toku Iwi – Hope for my People’ by Mike Tupaea January 2019

Located on the side of The Hub

The mural is about weaving Rangiātea (heavens) together with the whenua (land) through karakia. The central figure is a Tohunga standing in karakia holding a Kō, which in this case is a taiaha fashion into a cultivating implement. It is lashed together with a foot piece which represents Rongo.

The Kō in this mural is titled Hohou a Rongo (to lash together with peace). The trees symbolise Whakapapa. The roots of the trees are Manaia forms which symbolises the Mana of our Tupuna (ancestors) that we carry and represent. The branches of the trees have kowhaiwhai patterns referencing future generations.

The pūngāwerewere (spider web) is catching the kōrero between the physical and the spiritual lie at the foundation of the mural. The mural has three layers which have been hand cut.