Te Raukura Explained
Te Raukura
This building was given its name of Te Raukura at an opening dawn ceremony on Waitangi Day, Sunday February 6 2011. Te Raukura is of special significance to decendants from Te Ātiawa and Taranaki iwi. Previously where the building is located was harbour frontage to Te Aro Pā, one of the largest Māori communities in Wellington up until the 1880's. The building sees the re-establishment of a Māori presence on Taranaki Whaft, notably absent on the waterfront since that time. To find out more about Te Raukura and understand the layers of history on Wellington Waterfront contact our team at Wharewaka Tours who will be more than happy to book a tour for you or your rōpū.
Contact us hereOur Korowai
A distinctive aspect of Te Raukura is the concept of the exterior korowai/cloak. The korowai is developed in the design as an outer layer giving protection in a manner similar to that which the korowai gives to the human body. The cloak covers the body of Te Raukura, draping down its sides. It has been designed to allow transparency and facilitate access into and out of the building where desired and to provide enclosure elsewhere. It also provides environmental control to the building, creating shade to reduce solar gains and to provide shelter. The sculptural form of the cloak creates a constantly changing visual expression of the building. The sides of the cloak have been shaped to create forms symbolic of waka sails, reinforcing the maritime heritage of the project.
See more about the building of Te RaukuraStar Compass on Atea
Inlaid into the forecourt of Te Raukura is the Ātea, the traditional Polynesian star compass. The Polynesian star compass has its origins in traditional voyaging navigation by waka hourua which locates the starts and constellations as they broach the horizon. The design is based on a simple tāniko figure which is three colours, black white and red by the artist Eruera Te Whiti Nia of Rarotonga. The star compass provides the cultural linkage between the Kupe statue and the building. Kupe could be seen as the external tauihu or 'prow' of the building which itself could be viewed as a waka. You can hear more about Kupe, voyaging by booking one of our tours.
Book one of our tours hereMaihi, Pare and Amo
The maihi (bargeboards extending from the building) represent sides of a waka. They are a blend of tōtara boards lashed in the nature of a waka and having the symbolic rauawa or topstrakes of a carved waka rendered in laser cut aluminium. The lashing ends will blow in the winds like raukura feathers. The pattern is repeated in the two amo which support the maihi and attach to the front columns of the building.
Pare - tomowaka and tomowhare
The entrance to Te Raukura and Te Wharewaka have carved tōtara pare or lintels over the doorways. The design for these pieces including the maihi and the amo were done by Rangi Kipa and involved a number of carvers and Richard Carroll (Carroll's Joinery Ltd) in the execution of the work.