Te Kōpua o Hiku

Te Kōpua o Hiku is a place where stories, symbols and the environment converge. Woven into the bridge's design, the artwork invites reflection on identity, protection and connection. Created by Janine Williams (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāti Mahuta) and Shannon Novak (Ngāti Pākehā, Tarara/Croatian), the patterns in the railings and deck surface draw from Māori and Croatian symbols of endurance and guardianship. Williams uses Roimata Toro and Kaokao, representing strength and resilience. Novak incorporates crosses, dots and dashes that symbolise family, faith and the cosmos - motifs shaped by a long history of Croatian invasion and displacement.

The lighting system adds another layer. A nearby weather station collects wind data, which translates to light patterns that move across the bridge. These shift with the seasons: cooler tones during Matariki, warmer hues in summer, responding to the rhythms of nature. The lighting connects the bridge to the environment, to the breath of ancestors and to those using the bridge today.

The name Te Kōpua o Hiku was gifted by Ngāti Pāoa and refers to the deep pool beneath the bridge - the home of Moko-ikahiku-waru, a guardian taniwha.

The bridge is a place of connection: between cultures, histories and the natural world. A place that listens, remembers and responds.