Indigenous Led Design: Aotearoa-New Zealand's Largest Infrastructure Project

Join us for a conversation with Rana and Arekatera about how Māori principles have shaped New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project.

Building more than a railway — building relationships, recognition, and a lasting legacy for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Aucklands City Rail Link is the largest transport infrastructure project in New Zealand history.

CRL – is funded jointly by the Crown (NZ Government) and Auckland Council.

The collaborative co-creation (between crown and Iwi) of the Mana Whenua forum, which consists of representatives from 8 Native iwi/tribes within Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland City working together alongside CRL Alliance - endeavours to bridge a long-standing historical rift between the often-divided factions, whilst providing opportunity to embed and created distinctive designs for CRL stations and outside spaces reflecting the city’s unique cultural history.

Wāhine (2026)

In July 2026, Katz co-created Wāhine, a 3.7-metre silicon bronze sculpture unveiled outside Auckland's new Te Waihorotiu City Rail Link station on Victoria Street West, working alongside weaver Beronia Scott (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei). The work depicts a Māori woman performing a karanga — the traditional call of welcome — and stands on a 600mm basalt plinth, greeting travellers as they emerge from the station. Contrasting patina finishes distinguish the figure's body, hair, hei tiki, kawakawa leaves, and korowai, with the cloak's woven texture drawn from Scott;s expertise in raranga.

Blessed by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei at a dawn ceremony before its public unveiling, Wāhine was conceived by Maihi as a contemporary counterpart to Molly Macalister's 1960s sculpture A Māori Figure in a Kaitaka Cloak on Auckland's waterfront — a work for wāhine of the past, present and future alike. Speaking to RNZ, he described the significance of placing this kind of mahi in the city's most public spaces: “the statue will allow Māori to see themselves in the centre of Auckland... you can say whatever you want, you can take away what you want, but you'll never move us. We're going nowhere, we're here forever.” The sculpture sits alongside Horotiu, a companion bronze eel by Chris Bailey and Sally Smith, as part of a combined $1.38 million public art investment by Auckland Council for the station precinct.

Wāhine adds to his body of public work that already includes Te Ara I Whiti (the Lightpath) in central Auckland, and Te Toki in Parnell Auckland.