Te Tatau ki Kirikiriroa
Te Tatau ki Kirikiriroa has been conceived as a Corten steel portal or viewing aperture enabling a view across the river to Hamilton East.
It is located at the top of the tiered garden to act as a tomokanga or gateway inviting people to negotiate the multiple pathways in their engagement with the landscaped gardens and walkways.
The gateway features significant Maaori patterns relating to horticulture, lamentation and navigating life as well as the text of a whakatauki which came from the first Maaori King, Kingi Pootatau Te Wherowhero.
Site History
Victoria on the River provides a connection from the central city to the Waikato River and the surrounding landscape. Historically this site had very fertile soil and Maaori had extensive gardens here, cultivating kumara, rauruhe (fern root) and taro in the lower swampy areas. It was considered the ‘Garden Basket’ for Auckland. The site now enables the public to enjoy the natural landscape and connect with the city’s popular river path network.
Robert Jahnke b. 1951 —
Ngāi Taharora / Te Whānau a Iritekura
Te Whānau a Rakairo o Ngāti Porou
Robert Jahnke is a seminal New Zealand artist of Samoan-German-Irish-Māori heritage. He is Professor of Māori Visual Arts at Massey University’s Whiti o Rehua School of Art, and a highly respected educator, researcher, historian, writer and advocate for Māori and indigenous arts nationally and internationally. Jahnke’s practice focuses on the dynamics of inter-cultural exchange and identity politics. It brings together the different disciplines of design, illustration, animation and sculpture to explore Māori creation narratives and prophetic imagery. The use of language and text are major elements in his contemporary practice, also his explorations of light, shadow, form and reflection using neon text, pattern and mirrors that create the illusion of infinity and a connection between land and sky.
Mesh would like to thank the following for making major contributions to this project
Principal Funders
Platinum Funder
Titanium Funders
- Chartwell Trust
- Grassroots Trust
- Southern Trust
- WEL Energy Trust
- Glenice & John Gallagher Foundation
- Stafford Industries NZ Ltd
- Dallas Fisher & Helen Gleeson
- Linda & Marius Rademaker
- Stark Property
Gold Funders
- Jenny & Michael Holmes
- Urology Waikato Ltd
- Sue Collinge & Margaret Fairhurst
- Mark & Alison Ewing
- Sharon Honiss
- Lorraine & Alan Isaac
- Tompkins Wake
Silver Funders
- David Lloyd
- Jane Weir
- Glennis du Chatenier
- O’Meeghan Orthopaedics
- Vicki & Leveson Gower
Bronze Funders
- Anonymous
- Jill Bindon & Bruce Sheridan
- Pip & Richard Willoughby
- David & Helen Nielsen
- Sha & Mark Eman
- The Bech Family
- Harcourts Foundation
- Dragon Community Trust
- Blue Sky Community Trust
- One Foundation (previously First Sovereign)
- David Edson
- Anonymous
- DTI Lawyers
- Gibbs Lang Ltd
- Nancy Caiger
- Pat Patterson
- Anonymous
- Annabel Cotton & Mike Corkill
- Melissa Young & Stephen Ng
- Therese & Jason Cargo
- Sarah & Stu Anderson
Friends
- Pru Butler
- June & Colin Crabb
- Jan Gilby
- Jacob Quinn
- Dan Silverton & Michelle Coursey
- Debbie & Ian Dingwall
- Alfred McLaughlin
- Deborah Duffield & G Bowditch
- Ann McEwan
- Catherine & Barry Smith
- Jo & Phil Hollobon
- Wow Factor Music
- New Zealand Community Post
- JRF Foreman
- Daphne Bell
- Gay Fraundorfer
- Paula Southgate
- Chris Hughes
- Kate & John Clarkson
- Wendy & David Cashmore
- Karen & Grant Cowley
- Cam & Margot Buchanan
Support Partners
Service Providers
Strategic Partner
