Legend has it that long ago, the land that lay between the Hunua and Waitakere Ranges was flat. The battle between two iwi created deep cracks in the earth, thrusting upwards creating the volcanic cones scattered across Auckland today. The fertile soils left from this battle, combined with the abundant resources of the Waitemata and Manukau harbours have drawn people to this region for centuries. These natural assets also attracted waka from tribes across the country to trade with the people of Auckland. It is said that hundreds of canoes could be seen on Auckland’s harbours at times, giving the region another name: Tāmaki Herenga Waka – Tāmaki the gatherer of canoes.
Although TÄ maki Herenga Waka has been the heart of New Zealand’s trading for centuries, many argue the relocation of the trading port might be essential to Auckland’s wellbeing. The current freight area is proposed to relocate, allowing the port of Auckland to develop into a healthy alternative to enhance the life of Aucklanders. The alternative proposal can revitalise the beautiful waterfront, but the complete removal of the trading port and ship-docking will result in the loss of Tamaki Herenga Waka and its history. It is important for Auckland to conserve the Maori heritage and keep in touch with the sense of Tamaki Herenga Waka.
Preserving Tamaki Herenga Waka should be a spiritual process rather than an objective transformation. The qualities that originally attracted the waka from tribes across the country – the fertile soil and beautiful water – should be protected and improved. By enhancing nature, we remain spiritually in touch with the land and water: our true roots. In addition to enhancing these natural qualities, the notions of arrival and departure, water and land, on foot and on a waka, will help preserve the philosophy of Tamaki Herenga Waka.
As residents of a city, we tend to focus on the negatives rather than what we love about our own city. Housing, transportation, living cost, public health, economic inequality and the increasing privatisations of land are all problems that face Auckland today. However, we can find solutions to these problems by looking to what we love and enjoy about our city. When looking at our harbour, there are many things that we find enjoyable: swimming in mission bay, going around Waiheke on a boat, the bike and run route on Tamaki drive, or just having a coffee in Wynyard quarter. These activities can be our guides to finding solutions for the problems facing Aucklanders today.
The Hauora is a Maori philosophy of health and well-being unique to New Zealand. It comprises of taha tinana – physical well-being, taha hinengaro – mental and emotional well-being, taha whanau – social well-being, and taha wairua – spiritual wellbeing. The sense of Hauora and Tamaki Herenga Waka, in conjunction with an enhancement and improvement of what we currently love about Auckland should be the starting point to the redevelopment of the Auckland Port. Looking at other successful port developments and social landscaping projects will be crucial to the progression of this project, and will provide cues for what this site should become.
Tel Aviv Port Regeneration
Tel Aviv Port, situated on Israel’s most beautiful waterfronts, was deserted and neglected since 1965 when its use as an operational docking port was abandoned. The Regeneration project of the public Spaces of the Tel Aviv Port by Mayslits Kassif Architects managed to restore this unique part of the city and revitalize the public realm and create a vibrant urban landmark. The port challenges the common contrast between private and public development in a public space, and suggests a new agenda of hospitality for collective open spaces.
Santa Monica Pier & Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach was established on the beach area south of the Santa Monica Pier in 1933 as a part of a beachfront movement of gymnasts, acrobats and other talented athletes who converged on a small section of the Santa Monica coastline. It became the most famous outdoor gym in the world, and is now used by many gym enthusiasts and visited by many tourists. In 1951, the second most famous beachfront gym arrived known as today’s “Muscle Beach Venice”. The city has since made contribution to the athletic equipment and development of the beach, not only providing great facility for the users but also an architectural aesthetic and an interactive public realm.
Te Wharewaka
Te Wharewaka is a multi-purpose function centre consisting of function rooms, a cafĂŠ eatery, and a Wharewaka (waka/canoe house) situated on the Wellington Waterfront. A distinctive aspect of the building is the concept of the exterior Korowai (cloak). The Korowai structure covers the body of the building in a manner similar to that which the korowai protects the human body. The elements of the building include whakairo (carvings) and modern renditions of traditional designs, which transform the building symbolically into a ceremonial waka. It is also linked to the ancestor Kupe, and Rongo (the god of Peace) from Maori legends. Although there are many other buildings in New Zealand that incorporate Maori tradition into their architecture, there are only a few with great public significance and not many of them are situated in Auckland.
Central Park
Central Park situated in the central part of the borough of Manhattan, New York City has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962. It was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and the English architect Calvert Vaux in 1858 after winning a design competition. The Park is currently managed by the Central Park Conservancy under contract with the municipal government in a public-private partnership. The Conservancy is a non-profit organization that contributes 75% of Central Park's $57 million annual budget and employs 80.7% of the Park's maintenance staff. Today, Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States as well as one of the most filmed locations in the world.
While planting and land form in much of the park appear natural, it is in fact almost entirely landscaped. The park contains natural-looking artificial lakes and ponds, extensive walking tracks, two ice-skating rinks (one of which is a swimming pool in July and August), the Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, a wildlife sanctuary, a large area of natural woods, a reservoir with an encircling running track, and an outdoor amphitheatre, the Delacorte Theatre. Indoor attractions include Belvedere Castle , the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, and the historic Carousel. In addition there are seven major lawns, the "meadows", and many minor grassy areas; some of them are used for informal or team sports and some set aside as quiet areas; there are a number of enclosed playgrounds for children. The 9.7 km of drives within the park are used by joggers, cyclists, and skateboarders, especially when cars are prohibited on weekends and in the evenings.
The Auckland Port redevelopment should encourage social interaction, promote health and well-being and reconnect with its cultural heritage. As a starting point the focus should be increasing outdoor activities such as cycling, running and swimming, and the formation of a cultural (Maori and non-Maori) epicentre. The master-plan should include these elements along with a solution to optimise transportation to the site and solving other key issues facing Auckland (such as housing, privatization and the growing economical gap). The Auckland Port redevelopment should remain in touch with the sense of Tamaki Herenga Waka, and optimize the Hauora of Aucklanders.
epicentre