Manu tukutuku takes flight

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Windermere Campus is now home to an inspiring art installation in its Ako Ātea learning space—a stunning manu tukutuku (traditional Māori kite). The project was designed to honour Māori authors and cultural artwork.

After a series of consultations with kaimahi Māori throughout 2023, it was decided to create a dedicated space for Ngā Kohikohinga o Aotearoa, a collection that celebrates and promotes Māori culture. The addition of the manu tukutuku was identified as a powerful way to further the goals of this cultural initiative.

Engagement facilitator Steven Curtis, who had previously created a similar piece for their office in the Rex Williams building, was approached to craft the manu tukutuku for this special space.  

“I was inspired by a visit to Toitu Settlers Museum down in Dunedin in May this year. The Manu tukutuku that the museum staff and patrons had constructed for the museum’s Aotearoa display blew me away and was the genesis for our art piece.  

“I really enjoyed bringing together the ideas, images and materials into a cohesive plan that would “fly”. Collecting harakeke, raupo around the campus and throughout the Taumata walking tracks (Lakes walking tracks, Tauriko) was really rewarding.”

He said the mixture of traditional and modern materials complemented each other was a great aspect of this art piece. 

“Copies of the Māori version and English version of Te Tiriti embellish the lower quarter of the Manu Tukutuku tinana (body), it symbolises the on-going conflict and evolution of the Tinana to grow and be in the best shape it can be, to fly,” he says. 

Steven says it was essential to involve the Student Services teams based in Ako Ātea in the project. Together, they created tukutuku panels, each reflecting the unique contributions and aspirations of the teams for the students they support.  

The panels were inspired by designs made by local Rōpū and Tangata whenua from 1993 to 2023 and were developed from handouts shared at a June 2022 seminar titled “Telling your Story through the Māori Taonga of Tukutuku Paneling,” hosted by The Incubator Gallery and Studios. The completed artwork now includes acknowledgements of these contributors, which will be displayed alongside the manu tukutuku in Ako Ātea. 

“Also, Rob Herewini with his experience in Māori cultural art was a significant contributor to the successful completion of this manu tukutuku.”

Steven says he feels incredibly proud to have been involved in this project. 

“Overall I loved being involved because of the respectful and supportive working culture in our student services teams that I have experienced for the eight years I have worked at Toi Ohomai.”  

Construction of the manu tukutuku began in June, just ahead of this year’s Matariki celebration, and was completed in August. The final touches included a whāriki (woven mat) and a ta moko Ruru face adorning the manu’s body. Throughout the construction, which took place near the library workstation, kaimahi and students were encouraged to observe and provide feedback on the project.

On 26 August, a blessing ceremony was held, honouring the manu tukutuku alongside three other artworks by Quinton Bidois. The manu tukutuku now proudly soars above the Ngā Kohikohinga o Aotearoa collection, symbolically inviting all who enter the space into a shared journey of learning and cultural connection.  

“The blessing was a special occasion where invited kaimahi from the organisation came together to finally admire the Manu tukutuku in full flight mode.  Matua Judah Kohu conducted the blessing followed by a waiata lead by Brad Davids and finished with a Haakari (meal) prepared by Nurse Janet and myself.  I have intentionally kept this Manu tukutuku art piece low key.  Happy in the knowledge that the Manu tukutuku will support the intended purpose of Ngā Kohikohinga o Aotearoa space and inspire students, study and learning when they are on campus and in the Atea.”