Description:

Te Ara Pekapeka delivered an opportunity to represent the people of Kirikiriroa and offer them an experience of joy and delight. Our group of local designers, artists and fabricators worked together to create a functional and creative expression of a people who live by the river; both the people of our time and those of the time before us.
The project has two distinctive components. Firstly, Te Ara Pekapeka – a 200m weathering steel bridge which traverses the Waikato River, connecting Hamilton city to the planned densification of the nearby Peacocke development. Secondly, the Taurapa bridge, which is a pedestrian footbridge approximately 70m that maintains the continuity of the Waikato Te Awa River Trail.
The sculptural form of Te Ara Pekapeka’s support structure makes a reference to the traditional Maori kete bag used for the transport of locally grown produce once traded along the river. It also signifies the weaving of cultures; both the historic coming together on the beach for trade, and the current cultural diversity that exists in Kirikiriroa.
As the Taurapa footbridge arcs towards the river, the traveller is lifted above the hum of the traffic below, and offered an elevated and expansive view over the mighty Waikato. The two columns are representative of Taurapa, the stern piece of the Maori war canoe. Each Taurapa is adorned with Takarangi spiral patterns acknowledging the four winds of Tawhirimatea (Maori god of wind), and a metaphor for the various places we come from.
Socially, the bridge stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, weaving together our cultural narratives and using contemporary design to create a landmark that uplifts and unites the community.
Te Ara Pekapeka is more than infrastructure; it is a cultural and environmental tribute that invites all who cross to experience the beauty and spirit of Kirikiriroa.