Visitors to Mt Roskill village this summer can relax on seats fashioned out of local volcanic stone and created by artist Tessa Harris.
The kōhatu were unveiled at a special dawn blessing this week, the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki artist using stone from Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta (Big King) for the works, which are part of a wider project to upgrade the streetscape in the town centre.
“While there is still a bit of work to do before the overall project is complete, the unveiling of these seats is a real milestone and a special part of the overall upgrade,” says Puketāpapa Local Board chair, Harry Doig.
“Having an artist as talented as Tessa is wonderful and even more so because she has used stone sourced locally.”
Fletcher Building provided the kōhatu (stone) from Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta, which can be seen from the Mt Roskill shops.
Auckland Transport is working with the local board to revitalise footpaths and the roadway in centre of the village. The design of this project is reflective of the local stories, flora, fauna and landscape.
This includes:
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patterns on the footpath that will extend across Dominion Road that are derived from whāriki (woven mats)
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re-painting the southern wall of the laneway that leads to the carpark; featuring pīwakawaka (fantail), tūi and kereru, all native bird species important to the area.
Construction work is being carried out on Dominion Road, between Keystone Ave and Jasper Ave in the north and Mt Albert Road/Dominion Road intersection in the south.
Project contractor Downer put in extra hours to progress the upgrade, but works will soon be on hold for the holiday season.
This break will free up the road at the busiest time of year and allow the road surface to cure before decorative elements are applied in January.
Works are expected to be completed in late February 2020.
