Over three years ago, celebrated Tāmaki Makaurau based artist, Numangatini Mackenzie, was gifted the opportunity by Mana Whenua and local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to create the artworks in Roskill’s recently revitalised Freeland Reserve.
Before the beautiful artworks were installed, Numa spent time reading about the history of the area, talking to iwi and local knowledge holders - envisioning Freeland Reserve as a place where kai would have been collected and where tuna (eels) run.
Numa’s artworks at Freeland Reserve feature wai (water) as the ‘front step’ of the place. “This is a shift back to the way of the ancestors, when water and wetlands were regarded as taonga and a source of kai. The art is about honouring the wai and bringing the awa back to life,” says Numa.
At every entrance to Freeland Reserve and where every path crosses, intricate, stylised eels appear, inviting people into the park - carefully positioned with the community and tamariki in mind - but always running towards the water. “The eels, stencilled and sandblasted into the reserve’s weaving pathways are a sign of health, wellbeing and nourishment in Te Ao Māori,” Numa says.
On the back walls of Freeland Reserve, encasing some of Roskill South’s new homes and neighbourhoods, Numa created black paintings of hinaki (fish traps), another symbol to honour and acknowledge the way the awa would have been used in the past.
The design etched into the footbridge represents three maunga. Mount Roskill sits in the centre with the flat top flanked by two other maunga. These maunga were quarried long ago to build roads into Auckland - again reflecting the history of the place.
Numa Mackenzie is a contemporary, multidisciplinary artist who works predominantly in graffiti art, paint, tatau and mixed media installation. Born in Canada and of Cook Island descent, Numa’s desire to understand his heritage and moana culture took him back to the Cook Islands in 2009, where he met his wife, Precious (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei). Numa now lives with his whānau in Ōrākei, Auckland.
During his time in the Cook Islands, Numa strengthened his connection to family and his roots to Mangaia (the southernmost island just off Rarotonga) and developed a deeper knowledge of cultural arts like tapa, tatau and voyaging. Numa’s art practice and work is inspired by stories of whenua, moana, histories, museum collections and explorations of how our ancestors lived and thrived.
Earlier in September 2022, Numa joined local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Kāinga Ora and their development partners at Freeland Reserve for a powerful blessing, officially reopening the reserve.
