Te Herenga Waka Marae Gateway Lighting

S&T recently provided lighting design services for a seven-metre carved waharoa (gateway) located at Victoria University Marae in Wellington. The gateway was carved from tōtara by master carver and VUW alumnus, Dr. Takirirangi Smith, to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Te Herenga Waka Marae.

We were honoured to be involved in this project which transforms the Marae and gives it a more prominent public presence on campus. Before this, the meeting house was hidden down an alleyway behind colonial houses. The gateway now gives the Marae the prominence it deserves and, with its lighting, becomes a beacon for evening and dawn services, improving the functionality of the building.

The Marae is used as a teaching facility and a community-based marae. Taurima (marae manager), Te Ripowai Higgins, says the gateway is “another step in the journey of creating a place on campus where Māori values can be expressed.” 

The gateway was unveiled in a dawn service on December 6, 2011.

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