Giant Atua panel installed at K Road station

Two more of the 9-metre tall concrete panels are set to be eased into place

Sunday, August 6, 2023 • ByKelvin McDonald

One of the giant concrete panels designed by artist Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki) and architect Jessica Beagelman.

The first of three giant Atua panels was installed at the City Rail Link’s new Karanga-a-Hape station in central Auckland on Friday.

Designed by artist Reuben Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki) and architect Jessica Beagelman, the solid concrete panels measure nine metres tall and nearly three metres wide and weigh more than 11 tonnes each.

“These panels reference both spiritual and physical life principles depicting Ira Atua and Ira Tangata,” City Rail Link said on Facebook.

The solid concrete panel is nine metres tall and three metres wide.

Developed utilising the same technology as was used for the foils on New Zealand’s America’s Cup boats, the panels are considered cutting-edge in terms of what is possible with concrete.

Kirkwood has also been involved in the design of some of the interior elements of the station.

Artist Reuben Kirkwood has worked on the station's Threshold Elements. The Mercury Lane threshold design references the equiangular spiral on the shell of pūpūrangi (kauri snails),