Whai lighting up Silo Park

28 July 2025

Wynyard Quarter
News
Mana Whenua
Urban regeneration

Lighting up Silo Park with inspirational Māori art for winter.

Whai, a striking and distinctive new artwork has arrived on Auckland’s waterfront - illuminating the Wynyard Quarter for the colder, darker months.

A captivating light-based artwork by Janine Williams (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāti Mahuta), it is currently suspended across the Gantry at Silo Park, weaving together threads of tradition, storytelling, and innovation.

Inspired by the traditional Māori string game, Whai was commissioned by the Auckland Council Public Art team and first exhibited in midtown for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in 2024.

However, its return sees an expanded three-dimensional form that uses the Gantry as its canvas to create an immersive experience where is can be viewed from below or within.

Blending ancient knowledge with contemporary design, Whai weaves ancestral narratives into light.

This year’s installation brings new elements representing the making and playing of whai including the challenges involved – loops, knots and tangles.

The distinctive blue colour is drawn from the wavelength of light emitted by the Matariki star cluster.

Reflecting the artist’s cultural interpretation of Matariki, Janine Williams explains that the artforms highlight our need to strive towards enlightenment as we reflect on the past.

“Whai keeps Māori traditions alive, a shared experience that bridges cultures, ensuring they remain vibrant and celebrated for generations to come”. “I invite people to immerse themselves in the game. For centuries Māori children have played and become skilled at whai, learning complex patterns and the stories behind them. Through connection, creation, and discovery, Whai offers everyone that learning experience - bringing people together through the joy of making”.

Janine Williams (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Ngāti Mahuta)

As Whai lights up the Wynyard Quarter during the winter upon its departure in October and in time for spring a new sculpture will grace the quarter along Daldy Street – Waka Moana.