Maruata Rikoriko

Maruata Rikoriko is a luminous expression of Matariki — an installation that weaves together the threads of whakawhanaungatanga (connection) and kotahitanga (unity). Created in collaboration with artists Graham Tipene and Amy Hawke of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and brought to life at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, it invites the community to gather, to share kai, to exchange kōrero, and to honour the rising of the stars through warmth, memory, and togetherness.

The Work

Maruata Rikoriko came to life through a deep and collaborative process — three creative forces bringing together cultural knowledge, material innovation, and spatial storytelling. At the centre are artists Graham Tipene and Amy Hawke, whose vision shaped the kaupapa and the wairua of the space. Their leadership guided the form and intention of the work, grounding it in whakawhanaungatanga.

They partnered with Rui Peng at Critical, a Māori-owned company working at the intersection of design and sustainability. Critical supplied the Cleanstone panels, made from 100% recycled plastic waste and reclaimed fishing nets that form the structural body of the installation. These panels tell a story of kaitiakitanga, transforming waste into form and anchoring the work in environmental responsibility.

At Te Ara Hihiko, we designed, built, and carved the pou and tēpu. Our carvers, Jacob Scott and Jason Kendrick, brought their skill and kaupapa to every surface, fusing traditional whakairo with contemporary techniques. This is the heart of our practice — holding fast to tikanga while pushing creative boundaries, crafting public works that speak to both whakapapa and the present moment.