Parawhenuamea
Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki).
The waterwall tells the story of Parawhenuamea, atua (deity) of freshwater. The large triangle represents Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and the lava caves and underground water springs beneath the maunga.
Water and basalt are used to represent water seeping into lava caves.
Glass triangles, designed by Tessa Harris and crafted by Sofia Athineou, represent the volcanic field across Tāmaki Makaurau. They were crafted using melted layers of coloured gaffer glass.
The waterwall is made from precast concrete and locally sourced basalt inserts. It draws on the story of Mataaho, atua (deity) of volcanoes, to combine water, basalt, glass and concrete into a single work.
The wall is designed like a tāniko weaving pattern.
Small basalt triangles are arranged across the wall to guide where the water travels. Their triangular shape refers to strength, power and purity.
The water references Parawhenuamea, atua of freshwater and the way water moves through kōhatu (rock).
53 lava‑coloured glass triangles are set into the wall. Together they form a map of the volcanic cones across Auckland.
The triangles resemble molten lava as it once moved through this landscape.
E whakaatu ana te pakitara wai nei i ngā pūrākau mō te atua o te wai māori, mō Parawhenuamea. E tohu ana te tapatoru nui i a Maungawhau.
Kua whakamahia te wai me te karā hei whakaatu i te rerenga o te wai ki roto i ngā ana i rere ai te rangitoto.
Ko ngā tapatoru kōata, nā Tessa Harris i hoahoa, nā Sofia Athineou i waihanga, e tohu ana i ngā tini puia puta noa i Tāmaki Makaurau.
Te Ipu-a-Mataaho
Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki).
The copper-coloured ceiling at the entrance to Maungawhau Station references Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and the volcanic landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau.
The words “Te Ipu-a-Mataaho” refer to the bowl, or crater, where Mataaho, atua (deity) of volcanoes, came to rest.
A niho taniwha (teeth of the taniwha) pattern is formed through repeated triangular shapes.
These triangles reference volcanoes, acknowledging their importance to the station story and the history of the Maungawhau area.
Ko te tuanui, he konukura tōna tae, kei te tomokanga o Te Teihana o Maungawhau, e hāngai ana ki a Maungawhau me te horanuku o ngā puia o Tāmaki Makaurau.
Ko te ingoa o Te Ipu-a-Mataaho e kōrero ana mō te rua puia i whakatā ai te atua o ngā puia, a Mataaho.
Te Hā
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).
Maungawhau Station’s tunnel ventilation building is known as Te Hā, meaning the breath. Te Hā references the first breath of life and the building’s role in ventilating the City Rail Link tunnels below.
Te Hā is wrapped in a whakarare pattern, referencing change and disruption.
Te Hā also tells the story of Rūaumoko, atua (deity) of earthquakes. The structure is designed as a pito (pole), linking the world above with the underground where the unborn child Rūaumoko lives.
Te Hā has a solid base and patterned concrete that becomes lighter at each level as the building rises.
Ko te whare whakahauhau o ngā kauhanga o Te Teihana o Maungawhau e mōhiotia ana ko Te Hā.
Ko Te Hā e tohu ana i te hā tuatahi o te ora me te tūnga o te whare hei whakahauhau i ngā kauhanga o City Rail Link o raro iho.
Kua takaihia a Te Hā ki tētahi tauira whakarare e tohu ana i te panonitanga me te raruraru.
Ahi Tupua
Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Waikato Tainui, Waiohua, Ngāti Ruanui).
Ahi Tupua (Fire of the Deity) tells the story of Mataaoho, atua (deity) of volcanoes, and the volcanic formation of Tāmaki Makaurau.
The bridge’s deep oxide red colour references lava and cooled volcanic rock. Its form appears to rise from the ground, as if shaped by eruption.
The structure curves and twists along its length. These movements reflect lava in its liquid state and its natural flow across the land.
The patterns on the glass lift shafts trace lava as it moves and cools. Red shapes represent heat and fire. Black shapes represent lava as it becomes scoria or basalt. White shapes represent natural regrowth following volcanic activity.
Lighting poles along the bridge feature toi whakairo (traditional carving) designs.
Basalt excavated during construction is placed around the bridge, representing the basalt rock forest growth found on Maungawhau.
E whakaatu ana a Ahi Tupua i ngā pūrākau mō te atua o ngā puia, mō Mataaoho, me te hanganga o Tāmaki Makaurau i hua mai rā i ngā puia.
E tohu ana te uriuri o te whero o te arawhiti i te rangitoto me ngā toka o te puia kua kore i wera. Ko te āhua nei e mahuta ake ana ia i te whenua, ānō nei nā te hūnga mai o te puia i whakaahua.
Karā Toki
Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki).
The Karā Toki (basalt chisel) bridge is finished in a dark charcoal colour, referencing karā (basalt) or lava in its cooled, solid state.
The main structure is shaped like a basalt chisel, traditionally used to work soil and to create kūmara pits on maunga (mountains).
The lift shafts act as pou (posts), holding the chisel form in place. They also serve as visual landmarks as people move toward and away from Maungawhau Station.
The patterns on the lift shafts and bridge protection screens show how a chisel blade is tied to its handle.
Repeated triangle forms represent Maungawhau (Mount Eden).
Basalt boulders salvaged during construction are placed around the base of the bridge, extending its design into the landscape and connecting it back to the earth.
Kua whakaotihia te arawhiti o Karā Toki ki te tae uriuri o te waro e tohu ana i te karā, arā, i te rangitoto kua kore i wera, kua totoka hoki.
Kua hangaia te hanganga matua kia rite ki tētahi toki karā i whakamahia ai i mua mō te ngaki whenua me te keri rua kūmara ki ngā maunga.
Mataaoho
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).
The face of Mataaoho, atua (deity) of volcanoes, is cast into bridges overlooking rail lines. Mataaoho watches over as trains pass below.
The form references Te Ipu‑a‑Mataaoho, the crater of Maungawhau (Mount Eden), a tapu (sacred) place where Mataaoho came to rest.
Patterns on either side of the crater, or the bowl, show the spread of greenery. They reference the fertility provided by Mataaoho through volcanic soil and its importance for growing food.
Mataaoho can be seen on bridges at Mt Eden Road, Ruru Street and Normanby Road.
Kua whakairohia te kanohi o te atua o ngā puia, o Mataaoho, ki ngā arawhiti e titiro atu ana ki ngā ara tereina.
E mātakitaki iho ana a Mataaoho i ngā tereina e tere ana i raro iho.
E hāngai ana tōna āhua ki a Te Ipu‑a‑Mataaoho, arā, ki te rua o te puia o Maungawhau, he wāhi tapu i whakatā ai a Mataaoho.
Mt Eden Road Bridge
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).
The pattern on the Mt Eden Road Bridge references nearby Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and the lava that once flowed from it.
A circular form shows a bird’s‑eye view of the maunga (mountain). Patterns across the bridge trace the paths taken by lava during eruptions.
At 196m tall, Maungawhau is the highest volcano in Auckland. It last erupted around 28,000 years ago.
E hāngai ana te tauira o te arawhiti o Mt Eden Road ki a Maungawhau e tata ana me te rangitoto i rere mai rā i reira. E whakaatu ana te hanga porowhita i te tirohanga mai i runga ki te maunga.
E whai ana ngā tauira puta noa i te arawhiti i ngā ara i rere ai te rangitoto i ngā wā i hū ai ngā puia.
Normanby Road Bridge
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).
The pattern on the Normanby Road Bridge references volcanoes and lava.
Circular forms show bird’s‑eye views of maunga (mountains) across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Pūhoro patterns, spiral‑like curves, trace different lava flows as they move and come together.
Along the outer side of the bridge is a second screen with another pattern.
The lower triangular forms represent volcanic cones, or maunga. The forms above represent water flowing through volcanic rock and soils.
The design also refers to the historical name Tāmaki Makaurau, often translated as “Tāmaki desired by many” or “Tāmaki of a hundred lovers”.
This name reflects the richness of the region’s natural resources, its fertile volcanic soils and its close relationship to the surrounding harbour waters.
E hāngai ana te tauira o te arawhiti o Normanby Road ki ngā puia me te rangitoto.
E whakaatu ana ngā hanga porowhita i ngā tirohanga mai i runga ki ngā maunga puta noa i Tāmaki Makaurau.
E whai ana ngā tauira pūhoro i ngā rerenga rangitoto e nekeneke ana, e hono tahi ana hoki.
Ruru Street Bridge
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).
The pattern on the Ruru Street Bridge references the many volcanic peaks formed across Tāmaki Makaurau.
The semi‑circular forms represent volcanic craters. The patterns within the semi‑circles tell different parts of the volcanic story.
The outer pattern draws on traditional weaving designs. It reflects how natural resources were used by those who first lived in the Maungawhau (Mount Eden) area.
The triangles represent the field of volcanoes that shape the region.
Patterns on the inside represent the flow of lava, and the renewal and growth that follows volcanic eruptions.
E hāngai ana te tauira o te arawhiti o Ruru Street ki ngā tihi o ngā puia maha e tū ana puta noa i Tāmaki Makaurau.
E tohu ana ngā hanga porowhita haurua i ngā rua o ngā puia. Ko ngā tauira o roto i aua porowhita haurua e whakaatu ana i tēnā wāhanga, i tēnā wāhanga o ngā pūrākau mō ngā puia.