Rāpaki

While staying at Rāpaki Marae during my studies at Te Wānanga O Aotearoa, I had the privilege to witness the unique sunrise that the harbor offers. The day before, we listened to stories about this beautiful sunrise turning the sky into shades of green and violet after our pōwhiri. Eager to capture the moment, I rose early to see if fortune smiled upon me, hoping for a morning when the sky would indeed turn green.

Navigating through the sleeping bodies in the wharenui, where the colors of these sunrises are echoed in the Toku Toku panels adorning the walls, I felt an urgency to absorb this beauty. Passing early risers practicing Mau Rākau, a traditional Māori martial art, I made my way down to the pier, embarking on my latest adventure.

The early morning was worth it! I stood in awe as the colors transitioned from darker shades of blue to violet and lighter greens. The painting was born on the Marae, with many witnessing its creation. This experience will forever resonate within me—the people, their stories, and the profound sense of peace that envelops the water.

Though the painting appears quite green in this photograph, it transforms under different lights throughout the day, reflecting the ever-changing nature of the sunrise at Rāpaki.

Email - Carriesartnz@gmail.com