The rich history and culture of Te Awamutu is now on display on five pairs of beautifully crafted art panels installed on pedestrian bridges along the Mangaohoi and Mangapiko Streams.
The art panels were unveiled this morning at a ceremony held in partnership with mana whenua, the Returned Services Association and Waipā District Council, attended by elected members and invited guests.
Korotangi Paki, brother of Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, designed the panels with input from a cultural advisory group that included Ngāti Apakura representatives. This was to ensure the designs and stories authentically represented the local heritage.
The art panels each tell a distinct story and together highlight the merging of the Mangaohoi and Mangapiko Streams.
Mayor Susan O’Regan said it was a great honour to celebrate the unveiling.
"These panels represent our shared history, traditions, and our journey toward reconciliation and trust,” she said. “The project saw Council, mana whenua, and the Returned Services Association work together to honour and celebrate Te Awamutu's history."
Historically, Te Awamutu was home to a number of pā and people were drawn to the fertile land and accessibility provided by the rivers and streams, which were vital routes for travel and fishing.
The name Te Awamutu translates to "the end of the navigable river," as it marks the point where waka could travel up the Mangapiko from the Waipā River until it met the Mangaohoi.
Mana whenua representative Taiporoutu Huata said the panels, and the ceremony itself, represent harmony and the strength of unity. “Maa te kotahitanga e whai kaha ai taatou, - through unity there is strength.”
Three of the decorated bridges are in Te Awamutu War Memorial Park, one crosses the Mangapiko Stream on State Highway 3, and the fifth bridge connects Mutu Street and Shanel Place.
The Returned Services Association also helped create signage panels for the three bridges in Te Awamutu War Memorial Park. Installed at the same time as the artwork, these panels are positioned on the left of each bridge in the park, and commemorate the New Zealand Army, Airforce, and Navy.
Te Awamutu RSA committee member and Waipā District Councillor Lou Brown said the panels will continue to commemorate those who came before us, both the men and women who served our country and the tangata whenua who lived on the land.
