Whai Tere
$1,100.00
Title: Whai Tere
Recycled copper
1100mm x 840mm
Puanga and the Copper Shells of the Pātaka
As the first light of Puanga appeared above the eastern horizon, signaling the Māori New Year for many iwi of Tāmaki Makaurau, whānau gathered beside the moana to reflect on the year that had passed and prepare for the one ahead. The cool winter air carried the scent of salt and seaweed while stories of ancestors, harvests, and the changing seasons were shared around the gathering place.
Today we have some handcrafted shells formed from recycled copper sheet. Though fashioned from metal, they represent a living taonga of the sea and the enduring relationship between people and the coastal environment.
Tāmaki Makaurau is surrounded by water, with countless bays, harbors, estuaries, and beaches. For generations, this coastal landscape provided an abundance of kai moana, making shellfish an important part of the local pātaka. In contrast, communities living further inland often relied more heavily on cultivated root crops such as kūmara and hunted animals for protein source, with access to shellfish being less common.
Puanga arrives at a time when many shellfish are preparing to spawn. Traditionally, this seasonal knowledge helped guide harvesting practices. Shellfish could be gathered when they were at their healthiest and most plentiful, while allowing populations time to recover after spawning. Such practices helped maintain ecological balance and ensured future generations would continue to benefit from the bounty of the moana.
Each shellfish represented within the copper artworks plays an important role in the marine ecosystem. Mussels are natural water filters, removing particles from the water and helping improve water quality. Their return to parts of the Waitematā Harbour through restoration projects offers hope for cleaner coastal waters and healthier marine habitats. Kina graze on kelp and seaweed, helping shape underwater ecosystems. In turn, Kina are an important food source for large snapper and Crayfish. However, when predator fish and crustacean populations decline through overharvesting, Kina numbers can increase dramatically, creating “Kina barrens” where kelp forests are stripped away, reducing habitat for many other marine species.
The Toheroa, once abundant along New Zealand’s west coast beaches and locally at Muriwai, tells a different story. Feeding on phytoplankton and organic matter carried by the surf and often associated with freshwater streams and seepages entering the beach, toheroa were once harvested in great numbers. Over time, population declines led to a complete ban on harvesting. Vehicle damaged beaches, pollution of freshwater sources, and habitat degradation have all contributed to their struggle. Their story serves as a reminder of how closely linked land and sea truly are.
Beneath the waves, plankton from juvenile shellfish supports countless species throughout the food web, ultimately sustaining many of the fish and larger prey of these fish such as Tuna and Kingfish also harvested by people. Every Mussel, Kina and Toheroa forms part of a larger interconnected system that depends upon balance and respect.
As the stars of Puanga shine brightly overhead, these copper shells will reflect the light like treasures from the sea itself. They remind us that the moana is not merely a source of food but a living ancestor that sustains life. Through restoration efforts, improved management, and the revival of traditional knowledge, signs of renewal are emerging. Mussels are returning to help cleanse the harbor, awareness of Kina barrens is growing leading to the protection of crayfish and one of the reasons for fish bag limits and sizes and protection remains in place for vulnerable species such as Toheroa.
The gathering ends with hope for the year ahead. Just as the stars return each winter, so too can the abundance of the moana return when people work in partnership with nature. The copper shells stand as symbols of resilience, guardians of memory, and reminders that a healthy sea provides for all who depend upon it.
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