Kā Pūtahi Art and Connection Project
The Kā Pūtahi Art and Connection Project celebrates the power of collaboration and cultural expression along the Pūharakekenui | Styx River. Developed with local weavers, students, artists, and kaitiaki, the artwork provides a peaceful space for mana whenua to sit, connect with the land, and reflect on the stories held within Kā Pūtahi.
The Kā Pūtahi Art and Connection Project is supported by the Creative Communities Scheme, this project set out to create a meaningful artwork near the Kā Pūtahi Rongoā site.
The project began in 2021, when Kiwi Outdoor Resilience and Education (KORE) hosted a weaving workshop with tamariki from Belfast School. Around 30 students kayaked down the awa before harvesting harakeke to weave the basket forms that would later shape the base of the artwork’s seats.
After the weaving session, Christchurch City Council Park Rangers filled the woven basket molds with concrete to create sturdy foundations. Ranger Dave crafted the main bench structure, while Ra from Mokopuna Māori Arts Gallery & Tāmoko carved the top of the seat, bringing cultural depth and artistry to the final piece.
The Kahukura Rongoā Māori Trust, kaitiaki of the Rongoā Demonstration Site, guided the project’s development and selected a meaningful location for the seat within the landscape.
The completed artwork was officially installed during the 2022 Matariki celebrations, becoming a special place for storytelling, reflection, and cultural connection within Kā Pūtahi.
Want to learn more about cultural restoration along the Pūharakekenui | Styx River?
Explore our Rongoā Māori Demonstration Site and other cultural projects on our Projects page.
