A poignant setting to discover and practice traditional Māori celestial navigation techniques.

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by local chiefs just off the coast of this beautiful place. A former Pá was apparently one of the most impressive on the Heretaunga Plains. William Colenso chose this location for his Missionary Station.

In 2014, none of this was evident. The site was a car park, dumping ground and informal camping area. It was eroded, smelly, and a generally unpleasant place to be. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council began considering how to restore mana to Waitangi. The goal was to create a place that engaged people with culture and restored the fragile coastal environment.

Client

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Location

Hawkes Bay

Project team

Mark Lewis
Alex Smith
Jason Mazey
Kieran Dove

Worked with

Wayfinder Landscape Planning and Strategy

Project date

2015 - 2016

Awards

Category Winner | Te Karanga o te Tui | NZILA Resene Pride of Place Landscape Architecture Awards

With the strong horizons visible from the more elevated parts of the site, with vistas to Cape Kidnappers, Te Mata, Mahia and Maungaharuru, it became evident that the site was perfect for the establishment of a Star Compass. Átea a Rangi was born

Ātea a Rangi Star Compass and wetland restoration is a triumphant cultural landscape and environmental project giving rise to the knowledge and understanding of Māori sky lore.

The location at Waitangi Regional Park and the wider coastal shores of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa provide a place for people of all cultures to reconnect with the natural processes of the surrounding world in the Aotearoa context.

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