New Thorndon Quay signs reveal hidden history of streams

Next time you’re travelling along Thorndon Quay, take some time to discover the stories of the awa that once flowed through the area.

Thorndon Quay hidden awa sign located near the Woolstore [Photo supplied]

A series of new interpretive signs installed as part of the road’s recent upgrade mark the historic locations where four awa previously met the sea along what was once the shoreline of Thorndon Quay. Te Awa o Pipitea, Te Awa o Tiakiwai, Te Awa o Whakahikuwai and Te Awa o Wai Paekākā now largely run underground. The new signage helps reconnect locals and visitors with an important part of Wellington’s cultural and environmental history.

Developed in partnership with mana whenua, the signs tell the stories of the streams that

sustained generations of Māori communities long before the area became the bustling commuter route and shopping destination it is today.

Workers installing the new hidden awa signs along Thorndon Quay [Photo supplied]

One of the signs highlights Pipitea Awa, a stream that provided fresh drinking water, fish and garden irrigation for the people of Pipitea Pā. The awa flowed into Te Whanganui-a-Tara harbour near Pipitea Point and was central to food gathering and daily life. Today, although the stream flows beneath the city, its path is marked by niho taniwha patterns incorporated into the upgraded streetscape.

Other signs share the stories of Tiakiwai Awa and Whakahikuwai Awa, two waterways that once flowed through twin gullies leading to the harbour. The streams were important sources of fresh water and food and played a vital role in supporting nearby kāinga.The Wai Paekākā Awa sign recalls a landscape once rich with hīnau trees and native birdlife. The stream’s name reflects an area where kākā gathered and were traditionally snared, linking the waterway to the natural environment that existed before urban development transformed the area.

Historic image of Thorndon Quay [Photo supplied]

The interpretive signs form part of wider efforts to acknowledge the history of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington city in public spaces. By bringing these stories into the streetscape, people can get a glimpse of the waterways that continue to flow underground and helped shape the communities that once thrived there.

The new signs, located along Thorndon Quay, complement other cultural design elements included in the upgrade. They were also designed in partnership with mana whenua, and include etched footpaths, seating and lighting. Collectively they help make the area’s history visible once again.