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Piri Cowie, Te Hekenga, 2022
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TitlePiri Cowie, Te Hekenga, 2022
DescriptionNgāi Tahu artist Piri Cowie made the bronze sculpture called Te Hekenga for the front of Te Ara Ātea. This dynamic sculpture with tuna (eel) speaks to the migration of this iconic animal of the district. For Ngāi Tahu, tuna are a taoka species within their mahika kai sites for food production, as well as an ecological health indicator. As kaitiaki of waterways, lakes and oceans, tuna are embedded in the local creation stories, holding great cultural significance.
Importantly, this sculpture brings wai (water) back to this area: its loss from the 1850s through land drainage following European settlement caused the extensive network of treasured waterways and swamps across Selwyn, and particularly Ellesmere, to dry up. This resulted in a loss of habitats, water health and mahika kai activity and sites.
Cowie has completed several public art commissions, for Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu, honouring tuna (eels). You can see her work at Te Hononga Christchurch Civic Building in Hereford St, which houses seven of her bronze eels, and the Margaret Mahy Playground. Her eel sculpture Kirihao – Resilience, is in the Pito Te Hori Centre near the Aurecon building in Cambridge Terrace in Ōtautahi Christchurch.Date2022PhotographerSelwyn District Council Collection
DescriptionNgāi Tahu artist Piri Cowie made the bronze sculpture called Te Hekenga for the front of Te Ara Ātea. This dynamic sculpture with tuna (eel) speaks to the migration of this iconic animal of the district. For Ngāi Tahu, tuna are a taoka species within their mahika kai sites for food production, as well as an ecological health indicator. As kaitiaki of waterways, lakes and oceans, tuna are embedded in the local creation stories, holding great cultural significance. Importantly, this sculpture brings wai (water) back to this area: its loss from the 1850s through land drainage following European settlement caused the extensive network of treasured waterways and swamps across Selwyn, and particularly Ellesmere, to dry up. This resulted in a loss of habitats, water health and mahika kai activity and sites.
Cowie has completed several public art commissions, for Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu, honouring tuna (eels). You can see her work at Te Hononga Christchurch Civic Building in Hereford St, which houses seven of her bronze eels, and the Margaret Mahy Playground. Her eel sculpture Kirihao – Resilience, is in the Pito Te Hori Centre near the Aurecon building in Cambridge Terrace in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Date2022PhotographerSelwyn District Council CollectionConnections
Subject (Keywords)ArtCollectionPublic Art Te Ara ĀteaTaonga at Te Ara ĀteaArt at Te Ara ĀteaArt Mahika kai species of Te Waihora Lake EllesmereImageCorban Te Aika, Piri Cowie and Puamiria Parata-Goodall Longfin Eel (Tuna) at Te Waihora Lake EllesmereMore InformationRead more about the work of Piri Cowie
CollectionPublic Art Te Ara ĀteaTaonga at Te Ara ĀteaArt at Te Ara ĀteaArt Mahika kai species of Te Waihora Lake EllesmereImageCorban Te Aika, Piri Cowie and Puamiria Parata-Goodall Longfin Eel (Tuna) at Te Waihora Lake EllesmereMore InformationRead more about the work of Piri CowieAttribution
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Piri Cowie, Te Hekenga, 2022 (2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 21/01/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5573
