Trail art
Horeke Art Exhibition
The Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail offers an opportunity to cycle through communities rich with culture and shared histories, and pass areas of significant sites, events and locations encountered on the ride.
There are QR codes on the artworks on the trail to download the information for each piece, and on this website just click on each artwork and the information can be viewed.
“The group wishes to acknowledge and thank the Far North District Council for funding through Creative Communities Scheme and the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board.”
'Our love for Hokianga'
by The Tokumei Family
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
“We wanted to express our love for Hokianga in this mural. Each member of our siblings drew something which he/she likes very much, adding uniqueness and variety. Seeing the finished painting, we realized that although there were many differences in the way each painted, the love for nature we share brought harmony in the end.
We would like to thank everyone who has encouraged, supported, and inspired us along the way. Especially huge thanks to Rawinia who has given us the opportunity to have this wonderful experience.”
'The Tohora and the Kauri Tree'
Na Marcia Body
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Mataki is an ancient forest in the Utakura Valley. Long ago Tohora and Kauri were brothers that walked around on the land. Tohara had a strong desire to go and live in the ocean, so Tohara told his brother Kauri he was going; before parting they exchanged gifts. Tohara gave Kauri his scales and told Kauri one day man will cut you down and turn you into a waka; the scales will keep you afloat. Kauri gave Tohara his oil and told him, it would keep him warm in the Antartic ocean. Departing Tohara told Kauri that he would visit him every year. This is shown when Tohara migrates to the warmer waters to their breeding grounds.
'The Sacred waves of the Hokianga'
by Tipene Wallace
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Te Ngarunui (The Great Wave) being the beginning and the first wave of their journey.
Te Ngaruroa (The Long Wave) Being the second wave which took them across Te Moana ā Kiwa (The Pacific Ocean) and Te Moana Tāpokapoka ā Tāwhaki (The Tasman) heading towards the Hokianga harbour.
Te Ngarupaewhenua (the wave that lands upon the shore) indefinite the last wave which bring them the Hokianga harbour.
These waves are significant to Maori descent particularly the tribe of Ngapuhi, as these sacred waves played a huge part on who they are as a people today. Ancestors of Ngapuhi embarked on a journey from Hawaiki heading for Te Hokianga nui ā Kupe (The great returning place of Kupe – The Hokianga Harbour) utilizing tools and karakia (prayer).
'Te Kura o Horeke'
by Te Kura o Horeke
Destani Pita, Levi Le Noel, Phoenix Cullinane, Tania Tipuna – Rawinia Le Noel
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Tamariki wanted to paint Te Kura o Horeke,
the Horeke logo,
the Hokianga Harbour,
taniwha,
ika (fish)
and Brian Lee’s turkeys that visit the school often.
'Paradise'
by Virginia Mokomoko & Iris King Collaboration
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
To me, it’s Paradise… Collaboration from Virginia Mokomoko & Iris King… Virginia laid the foundation with childhood memories of our fauna that reminds her of home in Motukiore.
Iris added the finishing touches that remind her of home in Utakura and the lyrics remind us of days gone by… Our whakapapa connects Virginia and I, and our love for our little bit of Paradise
'Ngahere'
by Kataraina Le Noel
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Tāne, who separated his parents Ranginui (the sky) and Papātūanuku (the earth), is the god of the ‘Ngahere’ forest. The forest trees, including tōtara, kawakawa, kowhai, puriri, karaka, ponga, hārakeke and manuka are also taonga used for many uses such as tangihana, rongoa and for making useful items such as kete, baskets,and potae – in flower or fruit we know the sign of the seasons for gathering of kai.
'Motukiore'
by Luanne Butler
Iwi: Ngapuhi
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
My painting is dedicated to my mum Lulu Moka. The painting is split into three, the first panel on the left represents “Motu” which means ‘island’ in English.
It is my contemporary view of whenua (land).
I have always liked drawing versions of the koru pattern, these represent my connections to the whenua, both from Papatuanuku and from the placenta (whenua) of giving birth to my 12 children.
It also connects me to my tupuna and to the uri (generations to come).
The middle section is the pattern of the ‘Kiore’ a now extinct animal brought here on the Māmari waka by Ruānui in the time of the great migration, which accompanied our well-known Ngāpuhi waka, Ngātokimatawhaorua.
The names on the right are significant to where my tupuna and I come from MOTUKIORE (Island of the Kiore).
Ko Maramarua te Maunga
Ko Perunui te Awa
Ko Motukiore te Marae
Ko Te Arohamauroa te whare Tupuna
Ko Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe te Moana
Ko Te Ngahengahe te Hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te Iwi
Ko Luanne Butler ahau.
‘Manu’
by Te Kura o Horeke
Spirit Culham, Tyreece Pomare, Te Rangi Butler, Chevy Waiomio, Ana’maria Mizsey
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
The Manu (birds) of Horeke, the friendly Piwakawaka (fantail) flitters around
the pohutakawa tree, the glorious Tui feasting on the nectar of the golden
Kowhai putiputi (flowers), the shy Pukeko hidden amongst Raupo and the
cheeky seagull beside the Toetoe grass
'Mana moana, Mana whenua, Mana tāngata'
by Te Kura o Horeke
Arama Koroi, Te Ariki Katene, Emmanuel Le Noel, Josiah Coe, Tairawhiti Sylva, Elenalee Mizsey – (Rawinia Le Noel)
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
The pou represent six marae in the Horeke Districts, Tauratumaru, Puketawa, Mokonuiarangi, Te Rangatahi, Mataitaua and Motukiore, setting is where Kupe a great Rangatira and navigator of Hawaiki arrived, this painting depicts the arrival with descendants of each hapu emerging from the Hokianga Harbour.
Mana moana – Ko Kupe tera
Mana whenua – Ngā Marae
Mana tangata – Ngā Uri a Kupe
'Kuramarotini'
by Daryl Puata
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Kupe’s wife Kuramarotini was the first to see land, she called it
AOTEAROA – LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD….
When Kupe returned to Hawaikii, Kuramarotini did not return with him. A Puriri tree stands on our maunga Whakarongorua in Utakura, pūrakau (legend) has it that she is still standing and waiting for his return.
‘Horeke'
by Shyanne Mizsey
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
My mural represents those who walked before us, those who walk with us and those walking towards us.
The two taniwha represent our tupuna that guide us through the stars and the waters.
'Hokianga Life'
by Jessie Maxwell Rutene
Iwi: Ngapuhi
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
“Cruising the harbour finding the spot,
hauling in the snapper filling the pot.
Camping at Opo a family affair,
A tradition carried out over many a year.
Mangroves, karahu,
Flounder and spud.
Dust, potholes and cows chewing their cud.
Milking, haymaking, fencing, and more.
Feijoas and blackberries,
Loquats galore.
Hokianga life
A treasure for sure.
'Heart at Peace'
by Syoka
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
“Can you see?
Can you hear?
Imagine that you are standing on the hill.
What do you feel?
What do you smell?
You are now at the edge of a forest.
Look around up and down, feel the ground jump up and down.
Wow, you are looking at a different vision now.”
'Hapanga' mural
by Rawinia Le Noel, 2021
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Hapanga’ is located on the foreshore of the southern side of the Hokianga Harbour, near Motukiore where I was raised. This image is of a memory of my mum Te Aroha (in blue), her sister Myrtle and niece Anna out fishing on the Hokianga harbour at the narrows, near Hapanga. Te Aroha now 74 years would take my 3 brothers and I camping, my mum’s sister and her tamariki would usually come with us. Going out on the dinghy they would row to their favorite fishing spots bringing us ‘karati’ (small snapper) back to cook on the campfire. This was a past time that all the locals of our area could relate to.
The chevron shaped tukutuku pattern Kaokao is found in Māori tribal houses that signifies fortitude and virility. Inspired by my Māori heritage, and the environment (Te Taioa) that I grew up in, to me it is a representation of growth and movement.
'Hapu: Ngahengahe/ Te Ihutai'
by Anne (Ani) Taylor
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
Ko Maramarua te Maunga
Ko Perunui te Awa
Ko Motukiore te Marae
Ko Te Ngahengahe te Hapu
The world view of a humble perspective. Motukiore is enriched with history that includes, an abstract lens of taiao, and elements of whakapapa.
Hinenui Te Po – Surrounded by darkness yet the rays of Tamanui te ra gives us hope.
Perunui – The importance of Water sustains our people.
Kaitiaki – Perunui is one of Niniwa and Arai te Uru children who provides the community with kaimoana.
Colour Abstract – Representation of the many whanau who have migrated to Motukiore. Tangata not only maori whom have influenced the culture and history of our community.
'A Thousand Tears'
by Mark Lester
Plyboard, Acrylic 1200×1200
A Millenia ago
Kupe arrived
With his bride,
Kuramarotine
and his Taniwha
to Aotearoa
Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe
Then he sailed away back to Hawaiiki,
and his wife Kuramarotine,
in the form of a Puriri Tree,
on top of te maunga Whakarongorua,
waited patiently for his return,
and cried a thousand tears year after year
Waiting for Kupe to return to her
As the Great Eagles of the air
rested to comfort and care
POUAKAI….. HOKIOI
was their cry.