'The Lighthouse: Tū Whenua-a-Kura'

Wandering the wharves of Auckland and taking in the views of Waitemata harbor is a lovely way to spend the afternoon. The 70-square-mile harbor is the main access to the sea from Auckland, providing a launch pad for ferries as well as marinas that may be home to some of the most spectacular yachts in the world. 

For decades, Queens Wharf was the main landing for overseas passengers and its sheds were used by Auckland ports to store cargo. Eventually, Auckland Ports sold the wharf to the Auckland council, in part to be transformed into an event venue to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The wharf is now home to some event venues, a ferry terminal, and locals casting off into the harbor. But short walk to the edge of the wharf will lead you to a curious scene.

Best viewed at night, the installation appears as a 1950s state house. As you approach you’ll see it brilliantly illuminated from within. This building is an art installation called The Lighthouse: Tū Whenua-a-Kura, created by Māori artist Michael Parekōwhai in 2017.

Inside the building, you’ll see neon lights and a large polished sculpture of Captain James Cook titled The English Channel. Everything is lit by the glow of neon lights that represent constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. Both Polynesian and European explorers used these stars as a map while navigating the waters of the South Pacific.

Describing The Lighthouse: Tū Whenua-a-Kura, Parekōwhai said the piece “resonates with the Māori concept of ahi ka, telling us that our home fires have long been burning and the lights are still on.”