Cultural design executive appointed to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa
Artist and newly appointed cultural design executive at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, Mei Hill.
Hill’s artwork ‘Te Ara Tiatia’ was installed at Te Manawa (Westgate) in December 2020. The three glass panels are inspired by the late kaumatua, Heta Tobin, who had long stressed the importance of learning and celebrating matauranga Māori.
The exterior of this Hobsonville Point home represents a collaboration between Fletcher Living and Patiki Studio and Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara.
Artist and arts and design manager Mei Hill (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa) has been appointed to the newly created role of cultural design executive at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, the commercial arm of central Tāmaki mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Hill’s role within the team will see her charged with integrating design elements unique to the hapū into current and future builds, to ensure both building and site designs carry a strong Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei narrative across their whenua.
Hill established Pātiki Studio in 2016 and her work has been commissioned for projects in Te Manawa, Massey, Te Uru, Hobsonville and a glass installation in Wynyard Quarter, which will be unveiled in September. She was most recently arts and design manager for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia.
Grant Kemble, Acting Chief Executive for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, says Hill’s knowledge of cultural design together with her relationship with the wider Ngāti Whātua iwi makes her the fitting choice for the role.
“Mei’s background within the Toi Māori industry, particularly her personal involvement as an artist herself and understanding of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, will ensure each build features strong cultural design elements that tell stories unique to the hapū and reflect their mātāpono,” says Kemble.
“Bringing whānau artists into the process – from concept to realisation – is a rewarding and fundamental part of integrating creative expression into development projects,” says Hill. “I’m privileged to be able to contribute to the artistic storytelling of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and also excited to foster the talents of our whānau artists,” Mei says.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei identity and narratives inform the design process across all its developments, including the award-winning Kāinga Tuatahi, the soon to be constructed Kāinga Kaumātua, and most recently, the three-piece mural located in the Te Tōangaroa precinct.
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