Te Komititanga

Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki).

Te Komititanga is one of the largest public plazas in the city centre. The name means to mix or to merge.

It reflects both the gathering of people and the place where the Waihorotiu Stream, which today is buried below Queen Street, merges with the Waitematā Harbour.

At the centre of the plaza is the form of a large whāriki (woven flax mat).

It was designed by mana whenua artist Tessa Harris (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki) in collaboration with traditional flax weavers Marcia Matata‑Hohaia (Te Ākitai Waiohua), Jodi‑Ann Warbrick (Ngāti Whātua), Beronia Scott (Ngāti Whātua), Ngahina Tutaki (Ngāti Te Ata), Puaha Kaihau (Ngāti Te Ata) and Reta Puhi (Ngāti Te Ata).

The whāriki represents an ātea, a place for gathering and welcome. Traditionally, a whāriki is an item of mana, carrying status and importance.

Around the border is a niho taniwha (teeth of the taniwha) pattern. This triangle‑edged pattern is all‑encompassing and refers to strength and the Kīngitanga (Māori Kingdom).

At the centre is a poutama pattern, symbolising knowledge and learning. Hiki, seams or joins, are also shown on the whāriki.

To the north, the outer paving design reflects the motion of waves from the Waitematā Harbour moving toward shore.

To the south, the pattern reflects the freshwater of the Waihorotiu Stream, which once flowed openly into the harbour and still flows today buried below Queen Street.

Together, the designs show both waters meeting before this area became reclaimed land in the 1880s.

More than 137,000 pavers were used to create Te Komititanga. They sit above two underground rail tunnels built as part of the City Rail Link project.

The plaza opened to the public in 2020.

Waitī Waitā

Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu).

Waitī Waitā, formerly known as Skylid, sits within Waitematā Station Plaza and reflects the meeting of waterways. The design refers to freshwater flowing into saltwater and the swirling waters formed as they mix.

This location is where the Waihorotiu Stream once entered the Waitematā Harbour. Waitī Waitā also speaks to fish life, food gathering and the vitality water brings.

Long linear lines symbolise excellence and knowledge. The dips in the concrete represent disruption and the way people move through change.

The artwork has 2 slightly different sides, reflecting the two different waterways. A stainless‑steel centreline marks the meeting place of the two waters.

Waitī Waitā is made from sand‑blasted concrete. It measures 8m across and weighs 31 tonnes.

The surrounding footpath patterns reference the sandy shoreline of the harbour.

In this place, people once gathered shellfish in shallow water before the land was reclaimed.