“E koekoe te tui, e ketekete te kaka, e kuukuu te kereru.” Do you hear it? That is not just bird song. It is a proverb brought to life in steel. This is Ngā Manu by Dion Hitchens.
Ngā Manu stands proudly at the northern tip of Sanctuary Point. It graces the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway. This kinetic sculpture dances with the wind. The breeze guides three large koru shapes at the top. Each of the nine bird forms seems to fly off the koru as it turns.
Dion Hitchens says Ngā Manu refers to a whakataukī. It is sourced from Dr Hinemoa Elder’s book Aroha. It translates as the tui squawks. The kaka chatters. The kereru coos. Hitchens explains that it takes all kinds of people to create a community. The bird calls show each bird’s identity. They are different languages for each bird. Yet they all work together with the forest. They help create a better environment and community.
This proverb speaks of acceptance and non-judgement. Can we be more like the birds? Can we accept diversity as normal? Can we work together to create a better community and environment?
Ngā Manu was commissioned by Auckland Council Public Art and Pakuranga Rotary. The work celebrates Pakuranga Rotary’s 50th anniversary in 2020. Celebrations were delayed because of Covid-19. The sculpture is five metres tall. It is made of stainless steel.
When stationary, the artwork has a 3.7m span. When fully extended, it grows to 4.3m. It is set on a concrete foundation. This measures 2.1m x 2.1m. It is set below the ground.
Hitchens is of Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Porou descent. He also has Chinese, English and Scottish heritage. His contemporary sculptures serve as icons on the landscape. They help to signify the unseen.
Hitchens says he provides icons for historical and personal stories. He is most interested in the unseen values. He explores experiences and philosophies. These inform our relationships with the natural world around us. Hitchens explores the connection between all things. He asks how values from the past can inform our actions for the future.
Take a moment to admire Ngā Manu. Feel the breeze. Watch the koru shapes turn. Observe the birds in flight. Listen to the proverb it represents. May it inspire you to embrace diversity. May it encourage you to work together for a better community. May it always remind you of the unseen connections that bind us all.