Taniwha Time Machine

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Entrance to the 'Taniwha Time Machine' on the Wellington Waterfront, in all it's glorious neon power.

From the sign outside:
THE WĒTĀ FX SEASON OF
TANIWHA TIME MACHINE
Dreamgirls Art Collective

Long ago, Te Whanganui-a-Tara was an enclosed lake, but Ngake forced his way out into the sea by battering through the clenched teeth of the fish of Maui to allow the fish to breathe. Whātaitai was washed down the throat of the fish, causing it to cough, and Whātaitai and three morsels flew out. The morsels became islands in the harbour, but Whātaitai was stranded and grew weak and died, becoming part of the land around the harbour.

- EXCERPT FROM NGAKE ME WHĀTAITAI BY BEN NGAIA

Two special visitors have travelled back in time to when Te Whanganui-a-Tara was a lake cut off from the sea...

Ngake and Whātaitai, the legendary taniwha who formed the landscape of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, haven't seen each other since they ended up in different worlds, unable to reconnect.

Until now that is, as the stars have aligned, and Dreamgirls Art Collective have weaved their artistic magic to reunite the duo.

Meet this larger than life Taniwha Time Machine and pop inside to kanikani on the dance floor, or dial into the 'Hotline to the Divine' phone booth created by cameo Dreamgirl Coco Solid (Ngāpuhi/ Samoa).

He kōrero paki mõ Ngake rāua ko Whātaitai.

Ko Ngake rāua ko Whātaitai ngā tipua nui nā rāua te rohe o Te Whanganui-a-Tara i hanga ki tā tātou e kite nei i aianei rangi. A nő mai anō ā mohoa nei, kua kore rāua i kite i a rāua anō.

E hoki whakamuri ana ki te wā e noho tonu ana a Ngake rāua ko Whātaitai ki te roto o Te Wai Manga, koia ko Te Whanganui-a-Tara i mua i tana huringa hei moana...

Nau mai ki tēnei Waka Taima Taniwha nunui, tomo mai ki te kanikani ki te papa korikori, whakamahia rānei te waea hono ki te ao wairua, nā Cameo Dreamgirl Coco Solid o Ngāpuhi o Hamoa hanga.

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

PARTNERED BY
wētāFX
creativenz

THANKS TO
#AotearoaFest

Enjoy a little walk through ...

Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

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