Waharoa (Aotea Square sculpture)

Waharoa was one of seven artworks commissioned in 1988 during the construction of the Aotea Centre and redevelopment of Aotea Square, alongside other artworks such as The Aotea Tapestry by Robert Ellis, Red Dancer (1990) by Barry Lett, and Metal and Wood Sculpture (1990) by Paratene Matchitt. ==Design and construction==

, Tāne Mahuta (depicted as a bird), Tangaroa (depicted as a whale) and Tamanuiterā inspired patterns Waharoa (English: "Gateway" or "Entrance") and its location at the entrance to Aotea Square was chosen as a way to metaphorically transform the square into a , or meeting courtyard at a Polynesian marae. Muru saw the placement as a way to welcome (visitors) to the space, akin to how a visiting party is welcomed onto a marae. carving the piece using a chainsaw and chisel. He requisitioned pieces of copper from the historic Waitangi wharf piles in Northland, which he treated with vinegar to create a green verdigris effect. ==History==

The work was constructed in 1989 and unveiled at Aotea Square in 1990. In 2008, the artwork was removed for storage at Aotea Square underwent renewal, and returned to the square in October 2010. An unveiling ceremony was held when the artwork was returned to the square, which was attended by politician Hone Harawira, Mayor of Auckland City John Banks, and Muru himself. In late 2023, the artwork underwent further remedial work, which included a 3D laser scan, ensuring a digital record could be kept of Waharoa. Some smaller sections of the artwork have been removed for restoration, and are planned to be returned in April 2024. Over time, Waharoa has become one of the most viewed public artworks in Auckland. ==Reception==

Art historian Michael Dunn described Waharoa the "best-known sculpture" by Muru, believing that Waharoa "has a bold, free style of execution" that eschewed tropes of Māori art that Dunn saw as associated with the tourism industry and souvenirs. Dun praises the sculpture as having "mana, pride and grandeur", and sees it as a work that "symbolises which has been called the Māori art renaissance." Brooke Bath of Stuff called Waharoa "easily one of Auckland's most recognisable pieces of public art", believing it created a "welcoming sense of arrival and a strong sense of place" in Aotea Square. Artist Mei Hill sees Waharoa as the "defining Māori artwork of scale" in Auckland, while design specialist Olivia Haddon believes that Waharoas fusion of contemporary and traditional art styles makes the piece special. ==References==