Te Waharoa o Aotea

Waharoa’ by Selwyn Muru is a seven metre high gateway and stands at the entrance to Aotea Square, transforming it into a marae or meeting place, and Aotea Centre into a meeting house. At the top of the gateway, five main symbols arise. Looking from Queen Street from the right, is Tama nui te Ra (God of the Sun). Next to him is Tangaroa, God of the Sea, seen in whale form, mounted by a myth-man. In the middle is Tane Mahuta (God of the Forest), who is depicted as a bird, and beside him is Tawhiri Matea (God of the Elements). On the far left, representing heavenly spheres, is Whetu me te Marama (the crescent moon and stars).