Lisa Reihana: Kura Moana

Pūrākau - City to Sea Bridge - Jervois Quay (download the Pūrākau app Apple Store & Google Play)
Te Wheke-a-Muturangi - The Adversary - Whairepo Lagoon
Kupe Raiatea - He Karanga - Taranaki Street Wharf
Tableau Vivant - Te Papa Lagoon
Te Wheke - The Battle - Te Papa Lagoon
Ngā Kaikanikani ō te Rangi - The Sky Dancers - Waitangi Park

Experience this gift to Wellington as you wander the waterfront and discover local stories animated in new ways.

“Kura Moana focuses on Te Moananui a-Kiwa, the great ocean, and its role as connector between Aotearoa and across all the Pacific nations. I have created a series of installations that invite families and communities to discover iconic locations on the Wellington waterfront in new ways, to think about some of the local histories and stories that relate to this place. It's about travellers, those who dared to traverse the Pacific, people who seek something new, another life. Kura Moana is a treasure hunt across the waterfront and I’m hoping that kids will go on a journey to discover the different installations – there's music, song, playful inflatable sculptures and an augmented reality experience. I can’t wait to bring this art experience to Pōneke."

— Lisa Reihana, Artist in Focus

Ko Kura Moana tēnei, he whakaaturanga toi e pā ana ki Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, nā Lisa Reihana o Te Tai Tokerau. He whakaaturanga toi ataata, toi whakaari anō hoki, he auaha, he ahurei, he rerekē, otirā he kounga, he ātaahua. Ko te Kaupapa ko te moana tonu, me ō tātou tipuna māia, ō tātou tipuna mātau, i takahia noatia e rātou te whānui, te whāroa o te moana. Ka mutu, he kēmu kimi kura (treasure hunt) hei mahi mā ngā tamariki, otirā mā te katoa. Hei whakaaturanga tēnei e tō mai ai ngā whānau, mātua mai, tamariki mai, koina tā Reihana i whai ai.

Pūrākau - City to Sea Bridge - Jervois Quay
The magical presence of the giant wheke (octopus) Te-Wheke-a Muturangi is all around you.
Augmented reality reveals Te-Wheke-a Muturangi against the Wellington skyline. Use the QR code to download the app to see and hear a Pūrākau. Te-Wheke-a Muturangi speaks about being a goddess while taking selfies. She hovers above the pouwhenua of Para Matchitt’s bridge, their navigational symbols mark the original waterfront.
Download the Pūrākau app Apple Store & Google Play

Te Wheke-a-Muturangi - The Adversary - Whairepo Lagoon
What stories lie under the moana? The giant octopus Te-Wheke-a-Muturangi is here to remind us of her tale.
After being sent by Kupe's neighbour, Muturangi, to cause chaos in his village - the monstrous Te-Wheke-a-Muturangi was chased by Kupe across the Pacific Ocean.
Today she takes up residence once again sitting majestically in the Whairepo Lagoon, among wind and watery currents.

Kupe Raiatea - He Karanga - Taranaki Street Wharf
Listen as William Trethewey's 1940 statue Kupe Raiatea comes to life with a haunting waiata. Composed in 1990 by Ngatai Huata, Aotearoa tells history from a woman’s’ perspective.
Kupe is renowned as a great Polynesian explorer, but did you know his wife Hine-te-Aparangi was also a navigator? She named the North Island 'Aotearoa - land of the long white cloud', describing our island’s natural phenomena that resonates through time.

Tableau Vivant - Te Papa Lagoon
Gaze into the past to see William Trethewey’s studio as he prepared to make the Art Deco statue Kupe Raiatea.
This video considers Tretheway’s artistic process using three life models who strike expressionistic poses for Kupe Raiatea.
Can you spot Kupe as he resolutely scans the horizon? Or Pekahourangi who gently cradles a hoe (paddle) as Hine-te-Aparangi sights Aotearoa?
Tableau Vivant screens at the Te Papa Lagoon from 8pm and is best viewed from 8.45pm.

Te Wheke - The Battle - Te Papa Lagoon
Kupe chased Te-Wheke-o-Muturangi across the Pacific Ocean, thats how he discovered Aotearoa. Their heroic battle is shown as a series of thrust and parry moves, each taiaha strike exploding with light that illuminates sea fog and amplifies this epic fight.

Te Wheke - The Battle screens at the Te Papa Lagoon from 8pm and is best viewed from 8.45pm.

Ngā Kaikanikani ō te Rangi - The Sky Dancers - Waitangi Park
Usually docile and timid, Lisa Reihana’s comical geckos are more fun and mirage than camouflage.
Adorned with Reihana’s digital tukutuku designs, these comical geckos dance energetically amongst Waitangi Park’s native gardens.

Audio Guide

The audio described guide to Kura Moana is made up of three tracks:

Track 1 describes how the artwork is encountered.
Track 2 introduces Lisa Reihana’s concept for Kura Moana.
Track 3 is made up of six individual tracks, specific to each installation, and describes the key visual elements in each.

Click here to download a transcript of the Audio Described Guide.