A new water sculpture at the entrance to the Māori Land Court on Lichfield St has been blessed by kaumatua of Te Taumata Tapu o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, who described the water sculpture as a taonga for the people of Ōtautahi.
The new water sculpture ensures visitors to the court can again observe the tikanga of whakanoa – the clearing of tapu and returning to a state of noa after leaving a sacred or significant space.
The water sculpture was designed and constructed by Geoff McConnell of Contemporary Water Sculptures in collaboration with artist Morgan Darlison (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Tainui) of Kaitiaki Studios.
Morgan explains “the design represents the taurapa (sternpost) of a waka and is symbolic of a journey of connection, identity and belonging. Details on the water feature design include the Huia bird as kaitiaki, a poutama pattern that symbolises growth, and tāniko weaving patterns as reference to tīpuna and the whakapapa of Mana Whenua”.
At night, internal colour changing LED lighting shines through the perforated surface, illuminating the sculpture and emphasising the poutama and tāniko patterns.
The previous water feature had a large surface of shallow water that attracted birds and debris, creating an unsightly mess and ongoing maintenance issues. The replacement with its vertical form and flowing water with no pond, makes it less attractive to birdlife and easier to maintain.
Contemporary Water Sculptures are a Christchurch based company that design and build bespoke water sculptures with the aim of producing works of art that complement their surroundings and lift the spirits of those that encounter them.