Informative stories weaving the past to the present will emerge on the newly upgraded George Street to explain the Kāi Tahu designs installed as part of the Retail Quarter Upgrade Project.
Three tohu whenua (cultural markers/panels) – part artwork, part information – will be located in New Edinburgh Way Block (outside The Bog), the Golden Block (outside Max) and the Farmers Block (outside Farmers). Each one tells the rich, layered stories of Kāi Tahu in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
As part of the Retail Quarter Upgrade, the Dunedin City Council partnered with mana whenua Kāi Tahu to define the city’s identity and convert it into a streetscape, led by project partner, mana whenua owned organisation Aukaha.
Aukaha’s mana whenua advisory panellist Dr Megan Pōtiki, who wrote the cultural narrative for George Street of which inspired the street designs, says the tohu whenua provide insight into Kāi Tahu history and world view.
“These tohu whenua highlight significant landmarks, original Kāi Tahu place names, and the evolving nature of the landscape, offering an insight into the carefully curated designs that feature in the George Street upgrade,” Dr Pōtiki says.
“They also firmly embed our practices, values and pūrākau (stories) into our environment, so that the next generation of Māori, Pākehā and tauiwi alike will grow up in a city that properly reflects its history and identity.”
Project Director of the Central City Plan, Dr Glen Hazelton, says the cultural markers were included in the original budget for the street and the footings were installed during the main works, meaning there should be little disruption to foot traffic while they are being installed.
“We know that people who visit George Street have been interested in the way these values and principles have been incorporated into the street and the broader mana whenua history of the area,” Dr Hazelton says.
“As part of the George St Retail Quarter redevelopment, there has been a strong focus on the inclusion of mana whenua values and design principles. We are thrilled to see the installation of these tohu whenua that provide education and complement the other design installations on George Street.”
The tohu whenua feature four key themes used in the George Street design:
- Ōtepoti – Reflecting the origin of the Māori name for Dunedin, referencing the corner of the four-cornered kete and seeking to establish a distinctly Ōtepoti/Dunedin sense of place.
- Mātauraka – Knowing mana whenua stories to gather an authentic and informed knowledge of the past.
- Mahika kai – The practice of gathering and utilising food and other important material resources.
- Kaihaukai – The traditional practice of trade and exchange.
The cultural markers will be installed on Thursday, 6 March with a karakia led by mana whenua.
About the tohu whenua
Directed by a mandated mana whenua panel, Aukaha worked with Kāi Tahu artist Morgan Darlinson to reflect the Māori concept of Ahikā—the long-burning home fires of occupation by mana whenua.
This occupation is reflected in the colour palette ‘Ōtākou Red’ as the base colour of the cultural markers, inspired by the red at Ōtākou Marae. This symbolises the link between Ōtākou Marae and the central city.
The ocean blue gradients represent the Otago Harbour and its ongoing influence on the city.
Fabrication of the tohu was managed by local Ōtepoti business: engineering firm Zeal Steel and steel cutting company Precision Profile Ltd.