A giant Māori waka carved especially for Sydney’s huge new museum is giving Kiwi visitors from across the Tasman a taste of home.
The Powerhouse Parramatta, in Western Sydney, flung open its doors over the weekend after seven years of planning and a price tag of $1.1 billion, that’s 1,100 million dollars. The building is bigger than three full-sized rugby fields, with six huge floors covering space, flying, technology, fashion and culture.
Taking pride of place in the museum’s courtyard is a nine-metre waka, carved over 17 months by a small team led by Adelaide-based Māori artist Peter Elers. The waka blends design elements from several Pacific cultures, reflecting the many communities who call Sydney home.
David Borger, president of the Powerhouse, said the opening was a big moment. “There’s a new house in town, the Powerhouse Parramatta,” he said.
Elers said being able to keep making Māori art while living overseas meant a lot to him. “To be able to continue doing our art form in a different country is an absolute blessing,” he said.
The museum’s team includes plenty of New Zealanders, who worked right up until opening morning to get everything ready in time for the public.
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