Project Overview
Client
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency , Fred Graham (Artist)
Location
Piarere roundabout, Waikato Expressway
Date Completed
2025
Services
Consultancy
Design
Cut. Fold. Build.
Installation
Public art has a way of marking thresholds — places where land, story, and travel meet. Te Manu Rangimaarie, the Bird of Peace, now rises 12 metres above the Piarere roundabout on the Waikato Expressway, holding that role with quiet authority.
About the Artwork
Created by acclaimed artist the late Fred Graham (Ngaati Korokii Kahukura), Te Manu Rangimaarie is fabricated from weathered steel, its surface developing a deep, earth-toned patina that ties the work to the whenua it watches over. Standing 12 metres tall, it is one of Fred Graham’s most prominent works and a striking new landmark for travellers passing through the Waikato.
Design and Meaning
The work celebrates a powerful story of heritage, unity, and peace. It reflects the deep connection between ngaa hapuu o Waikato — the sub-tribes of Waikato — the land, and the many waterways that run through the region.
Positioned to face Taupiri maunga, Te Manu Rangimaarie also acknowledges an ancient shift in the Waikato River’s course, when the river turned from the Hauraki Gulf toward Taupiri before flowing west to the sea. In this way the artwork stands as both a karakia for peace and a remembrance of the landscape’s deeper history.
Engineering and Artisanship
Bringing a 12-metre weathered steel form to a state highway location demanded careful structural design, precise fabrication, and a tightly coordinated installation. Our team worked closely with Fred Graham and Waka Kotahi to translate the artist’s design into a piece that is structurally robust, weather-resilient, and safe for its high-traffic setting — while preserving the lines and feeling Fred intended.
See it in Person
Visitors can view Te Manu Rangimaarie at the Piarere roundabout on the Waikato Expressway and experience the scale, story, and craftsmanship of the work in its setting.
