The brief from the Tūpuna Maunga Authority was to develop an experience that draws international and local visitors in to see, hear and feel the geological, archaeological and spiritual significance of the sacred Auckland maunga.

Working with an archaeologist, geologist and local iwi leaders, we immersed ourselves into the Maungawhau story. We developed a user flow that moves visitors organically from present-day Mt Eden, back in time, around 14 maunga of Auckland and back to the café and gift shop.

The visitor experience starts with a culturally significant entrance, a striking modern interpretation of a Māori pā palisade that speaks to pre-European life on Maungawhau and provides an inviting traditional welcome to visitors.

The overall look and feel is inspired by the colours and textures of volcanic rock, lava and the rolling slopes. The typography incorporates three linear parallel lines to represent past, present, and future moving together and is suggestive of traditional Māori Kowhaiwhai linework. Historical photography and artworks are balanced with present-day images to further connect the past and present.

Visitors are led through a series of large display panels, each panel combining words and imagery to tell compelling stories in both English and te Reo Māori.

The core of the experience includes a conceptual model of Mt Eden, offering a 360º view of Mt Eden’s natural features and is also the start of an immersive augmented reality experience. The AR transports visitors back 28,000 years to experience the eruption that formed Maungawhau, allows visitors to explore a detailed pā settlement, capturing what life may have been like 300 years ago. A further experience allows visitors to explore recent European history.

The visitors centre is known as Te Ipu Kōrero o Maungawhau (the crater of knowledge and stories) is attracting big visitor numbers, and the praise of local iwi, government and tourism authorities for its effective storytelling.

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AWARDS
Best Awards Finalist / Installation & Exhibition
AGDA Finalist / Spatial & Permanent Installations
International Design Awards Gold / Print & Exhibition

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CREDITS
Design Director & Designer Christopher Gough Palmer
Strategy, Research & Content Steven Giannoulis
Account Manager Monique Wallace
Digital Production Jeremy Sweetman & Kylie Rose
Digital Design & Development Aisling Barclay & Mitch Duncan
Production Jo Otto, Kirsty Drummond & Mason Smith
Agency Insight Creative