Hina is our latest hanging art piece that adorns the ceiling space above Māhuhu Eatery here in AECOM House.

Hina was designed and created by our very own whānau, Bernadette Papa who is a Ngāti Whātua, Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi weaver, fibre artist, and environmental kaitiaki, in collaboration with Aka Whiro who are a master carver and weaver duo - Kade Cowper (Ngāti Kahungunu) and Ruth Woodbury (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) who are based in Motutoa & Omanaia, Hokianga. 

The hinaki is a traditional food gathering tool that was used to capture tuna (eels) which was a great indicator of environmental and economical sustenance for the iwi. The hīnaki design was inspired by the whakatauki "Te pai me te whai rawa" which refers to the wealth and abundance of the iwi. The skeleton of Hina is made up of tuna which bind together and creates the hīnaki. These tuna are associated with the awa that flow into Te Tōangaroa – Waipapa, Waipāruru, Waiariki. 

Hina symbolises both the traditional and economical representation of wealth and abundance here in Te TeTōangaroa.

AECOM House, located in the heart of Te Tōangaroa in Tāmaki’s CBD, is now home to the latest Toi Māori piece designed collaboratively by members of Ngāti Whātua Orākei whānau kai raranga - Beronia Scott, Ruth Cullen Scott, Shelley Faiers, Kororia Witika, Rebecca Reid, Te Whaea Witika.

Gifted the name Te Tumu Herenga Waka, meaning the mooring post, it uses the weaving pattern Aramoana (pathway to the ocean) to share a piece of the history of Te Tōangaroa.

AECOM House is one of the commercial investment properties belonging to the hapū and this piece was commissioned to inspire pride amongst the workplace, adding to the cultural design within the wider precinct.

This tukutuku represents where tangata whenua would moor their waka and trade their goods or stop for a rest. The toetoe on front of the panel represents the tumu (post) which the waka would be tied to.

Next time you’re in Te Tōangaroa make sure to check out this stunning piece of art, kept on the ground floor of AECOM House.

The images depicted in this mural acknowledge Te Tōangaroa and Tāmaki Herenga Waka, the name of the place this mural now stands. Both names speak to the dragging and mooring of waka.

The waka taurapa (carved stern-post) evokes ‘Te Pou Whakairo ka tū ki te Waitematā’ gazing out over the Waitematā toward Tokapurewha and Takaparawhau where the haukainga of Te Taou, Te Uringutu and Ngaoho stand and have stood over many generations.

The taurapa acknowledges the rangatira steering us toward Te Ao Marama and each individual steering their own waka in life within the collective.

Ngā tohu o te rangi, the stars and signs above alongside ngā tohu o te taiao (signs of the environment) guide the kaiurungi (steerer) on the journey of the waka into the future.

The star constellation depicted is Te Matau a Maui, that can be seen in the location depicted with the rising of marama, prior to Hine Takurua and the rising of Matariki. This was visible in the location depicted in the mural at the time of painting. 

With the long setting of the sun, Rākaunui (full moon) emerges from Tāne-te-waiora high in the sky. This acknowledges the phases of the moon, like the ebb and flow of the tides, that symbolise ‘ngā piki me ngā heke’ the good times and the challenges that our people move through towards te Ao Marama, enlightenment and well-being.