Te Manu Ka Rewa

This sculpture by Jadyn Flavell (Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua) is inspired by the puuraakau (traditional oral narratives) of Tamapahore and his kite, from which Manurewa received its name. Flavell hand-carved the central figures using Takaanini kauri gifted to him by his late grandfather, the carver George Flavell. Each figure represents a tuupuna (ancestor) - Waiohua Chief Huarangi is at the base of the pou, his first son Tamapahure is in the middle and his second son Tamapahore is at the top.

The ancestors are encased by a Corten steel frame in the shape of a matuku (bittern bird) which lived on Waiohua paa sites Matukutuureia and Matukutuururu. The paa sites are represented on either side. A manuaute (traditional kite) depicting Te Atua Uenuku (rainbow God) is located at the top of the artwork, as if taking flight into the sky.

The face of the manuaute shows Taawhirimatea, the God of weather. The patterns depicted on the underside of its wings represent the communities of Manurewa which are guided and uplifted by ngaa Atua. There are also ten stars: Rehua (Father), and the Matariki stars according to Ngaati Te Ata - Matariki (Mother) and the eight children.

Programmable lighting picks up different elements of the artwork, giving it a depth and unique presence at night.

Te Manu Ka Rewa (the bird that is elevated) was named by Te Huia Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua). It was inspired by the whakatauki 'Maa te kahukura ka rere te manu' – 'it is through the feathers that the bird takes flight'. This is a metaphor for how people can work together. Like a bird in flight, every feather works in harmony to create the lift needed to soar. This cannot be achieved by a single feather, but together, feathers carry the bird to greater heights.