Whangārei terenga paraoa – a gathering place local Ngatiwai tribe named our harbour Whangārei-te-rerenga-parāoa which can mean both the gathering place of whales and the gathering place of chiefs.

Whangarei’s waterfront is historically and culturally significant as a site of early occupation by both Maori and European settlers. The design aims to enhance and celebrate rich cultural narratives and the site’s former history within the marine industry.

The result is a vibrant set of murals, overlaid with carved patiki panels featuring kowhaiwhai patterns that represent hammerhead sharks (perseverance and resilience) and fires that illuminate the night sky for a safe passage home (navigation). 

Carved waka and figures representing ancestors combine to tell the iconic stories specific to Whangarei. 

A combination of painting and carving, the murals are a symbol of acknowledgement and pride of the rich history that is important to Te Parawhau and allied mana whenua of the wider area.