Christ Church Cathedral has become the canvas for a striking visual tribute to Matariki, with a powerful projection installation titled Hurihanga now lighting up its historic façade.
Created by Sam Emerson (Ngāi Tahu) of the Offline Collective, in collaboration with fellow artists Michael Duggan and Charlie Pitts, Hurihanga is a key feature of the Flare Ōtautahi Street Art Festival. The installation celebrates Māori knowledge and storytelling, transforming the cathedral with dynamic imagery that honours themes of renewal, remembrance, and whakapapa (genealogy).
Project manager Selina Faimalo described the work as an invitation for the public “to pause, wonder, reflect and connect in a conversation.” She said the installation enriches the cultural significance of the site by exploring Ōtautahi’s relationship with the past, present, and future in recognition of Matariki, the Māori New Year.
“Hurihanga adds meaningful layers to the iconic cathedral,” Faimalo noted, “revealing our connections to place and each other.”
Dean of the cathedral, Ben Truman, welcomed the installation as part of the cathedral’s tradition of marking important civic and cultural moments. He highlighted the Anglican commitment to bicultural celebration, describing the projection as “an exciting way to unite our community around whakapapa and whakapono—our genealogy and our faith—while remembering our personal and collective histories.”
The project was funded through a community-driven crowdfunding campaign, underscoring widespread public support for culturally resonant art.
Sam Emerson explained that Hurihanga draws on ancestral narratives and the significance of Puaka—a star observed by iwi in Te Waipounamu as part of Matariki celebrations. In Māori cosmology, Puaka’s appearance signals the rising of Te Waka o Raki, the celestial canoe that carries departed loved ones to the heavens.
“Hurihanga harnesses this wairua (spiritual essence),” Emerson said, “and uses the symbolism of the cycles of time—wind, rain, lightning, the harvesting and storing of food—to tell a transformative story that transcends its physical setting.”
The projection will run nightly from 6pm to 10pm for a month beginning Wednesday, June 11.
