Walkway idea inspired by wha¯nau
A university student’s awardwinning idea for the proposed multimillion-dollar extension of Taranaki’s popular coastal walkway could completely transform the Waitara coastline.
Te Atiawa’s Libby White has just finished a Bachelor of Spatial Design degree with honours at Wellington’s Massey University, studies capped off with the completion of her project Te Papaka¯inga o nga¯ Kuaka (the home of the godwits).
The designs, informed by her ideas, along with those of her wha¯ nau and Manuko¯ rihi hapu¯ , create a picture of what the stretch of the Coastal Walkway set to be constructed from Bell Block to Waitara could look like.
In June, New Plymouth District Council announced plans to invest $4 million in the walkway extension, with the same amount to be provided by New Zealand Transport Agency.
White said while the existing walkway had a ‘‘simple and robust’’ design as it entered a new place, it should reflect its surroundings.
‘‘As it comes to Waitara it should begin to represent the space it’s entering.’’
With that in mind, White spent time developing the project through talking with her family, hapu¯ members and other Waitara residents. Her goal was to come up with a design that reflected the cultural and historical stories unique to Waitara.
An integral part of that was ensuring nature and human activity co-existed safely, especially bird life.
White’s concept paid homage to the kuaka (godwit), which had significance to the town and to Ma¯ ori.
The bird features prominently in Ma¯ ori history as well as being referenced in whakataukı¯ (proverbs).
Embellishments White has included in her plans included carved pou (wooden poles), a colour scheme inspired by ko¯ ko¯ wai or red clay sourced from Mt Taranaki, bird motifs and an elevated platform surrounded by copper metal rods, an idea inspired by watching sea birds through toe toe grass.
White said it was important to ‘‘see ourselves and our stories in our own places’’.
Her inspiration for the design, which this year netted her an award for the most outstanding research and development project by Massey University’s College of Creative Arts, was a piece of research she completed at an earlier stage during her four-year degree.
The focus of that inquiry was how to improve the involvement of Ma¯ ori and mana whenua when developing ideas to transform public spaces.
White now hoped to submit her plans to NPDC to consider but also indicated a desire to play some role in the development of the Waitara leg of the Coastal Walkway.
‘‘It would be pretty cool to see it come to life.’’
The 22-year-old has been accepted into teaching next year but planned to study extramurally as she wanted to remain in Taranaki.
While the design idea was rooted in the history of her hometown, White said she had also been personally enriched by the project.
‘‘I’ve been learning so much about who I am.’’
In October 1999, construction began on the award-winning Coastal Walkway, which begins at Pioneer Park near Port Taranaki. It was formally opened four years later.
Work on the Bell Block to Waitara extension is scheduled to begin next year.