Wāhine

Wāhine is a 3.7-metre-tall, high-detail figurative sculpture representing a mature Māori woman performing a karanga (call out) to welcome manuhiri (visitors) ascending from Te Waihorotiu Station to Te Hā Noa (Victoria Street). Cast in silicon bronze, the figure features carefully considered contrasting patina finishes across her body, hair, hei tiki, kawakawa and korowai (cloak).

She stands on a 600 mm-high stone plinth, with her feet meeting basalt pavers sourced from Aotearoa. From this position, she gazes forward and projects her karanga across the main entry and exit ramp of Te Waihorotiu Station, calling a welcome to arriving manuhiri.

The Wāhine figure is timeless, her Te Ao Māori attire is entirely traditional and her performance of the karanga acknowledged as the domain of wāhine with mana, embodying both spiritual and cultural authority in welcoming those who enter the space.

Master carver Katz Maihi (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Tainui, Te Waiohua, Ngāpuhi) worked with artist Beronia Scott (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) as her expertise in raranga (weaving) informed the design of the korowai. The sculpture was commissioned by Auckland Council's Development Programme Office and Auckland Urban Development Office for the Central Rail Link (CRL) opening in 2026.