26 Jun 2024
As we celebrate Matariki in Aotearoa, Studio Pacific is honoured to collaborate with the Kāpiti Coast District Council and Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai on Te Ara Whetū, Waikanae’s new community library.
Matariki is a significant time in the Māori calendar, celebrating the Maramataka calendar. Marked by the pre-dawn rising of the Matariki star cluster, it signifies reflection, remembrance, and renewal. Each star represents different bounties: Tupuānuku (food from the ground), Tupuārangi (food from the sky), Waitī (fresh water), Waitā (the ocean), Waipunarangi (rainfall), and Ururangi (winds). It is a time for remembering our tīpuna, our loved ones, and looking ahead to the future.
As we celebrate Matariki in Aotearoa, Studio Pacific is honoured to collaborate with the Kāpiti Coast District Council and Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai on Te Ara Whetū, Waikanae’s new community library. Te Ara Whetū, meaning 'The Path of the Stars,' embodies the celestial significance of Matariki and the district’s natural beauty and cultural richness.
Te Ara Whetū speaks to the interconnectedness of all life. Rain falls on Kapakapanui above, brought by Waipunarangi, filling Waikanae’s streams. Guided by Waitī, these waters merge with the ocean under the influence of Waitā and ultimately connect with their motu, Kāpiti Island. This journey symbolises the indivisibility of human and non-human worlds, a core belief in Te Ao Māori and a core narrative that will be explored in the design.
The vision for Te Ara Whetū is to create a space that welcomes learning, connection, and reflection. This project aligns with our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the New Zealand Institute of Architects Te Kawanata o Rata and supports our mission to accelerate with cultural recovery.
Te Ara Whetū will provide the Waikanae community with opportunities for learning, working, and creating, while supporting cultural identity and understanding.
We are excited and grateful to be part of the Te Ara Whetū team and look forward to delivering a library that reflects Waikanae and its community.
We look forward to sharing our concept designs later this year.
Mānawatia a Matariki ki a tātou!
Matariki is a significant time in the Māori calendar, celebrating the Maramataka calendar.