In the shadow of Tangi Te Keo (Mount Victoria Lookout), Linda Lee’s pop-up maker space Awakening the Taniwha – a response to Shared Lines: Pūtahitanga – brings the Surrealist exquisite corpse mode of collaboration to tell the tale the taniwha of Te Whanganui-ā-Tara - Ngāke and Whātaitai. 

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Linda LeeTangi Te Keo, Man's Domain and  Overseer, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 2020.

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Taniwha are supernatural creatures who inhabit rivers, lakes, caves or the sea - some are terrifying, others protective. Many were said to have accompanied our Polynesian ancestors to Āotearoa. Taniwha are our ancient guide to resource management and perhaps offer us a new way to navigate our understanding of pandemic. Explore taniwha as a metaphor for Covid-19, the pandemic, the vaccines, the mandates, protests and much more. 

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At the maker-space, 106 Courtney Place, you are invited to make your own taniwha through various mediums: master carver Natanahira Pona, weaver Frank Topia and artists Ngaroma Riley and Linda Lee and have provided a variety of resources.  

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The space provides a reading and conversational/writing and digital media area for sharing perspectives and a weaving space, while an exhibition will include viewings of the 60 Pūtahitanga artists' original artworks. We hope to provide a magical sensory experience for visitors and through our space inspire the next generation to think about the importance we play in kaitiakitanga or collective guardianship.

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Drop by to weave, read, draw and learn about taniwha, why tupuna held them in such high esteem, and how we can maintain relationships with them today.