Auckland Museum - MIT Manukau

What a privilege & honour to be commissioned by the Auckland Museum for 'Taku Tāmaki - Auckland Stories South' at Manukau Institute of Technology Manukau campus. We would like to thank Simon Gould (exhibition developer) & Kelly Bewley (project manager) for their support & trust regarding the body of work giving us creative freedom & to Amiria Puia-Taylor for your constant aroha towards us as artists!

Excerpt from the exhibition panel: Internationally acclaimed and proud South Aucklanders, the urban contemporary artist couple Charles & Janine Williams have created a body of work celebrating the birdlife and story of the naming of Manukau.

About 1350AD the Tainui waka moved up the Tamaki River on the east coast, entering the Manukau harbour via the Otāhuhu portage. They heard the cries of a multitude of sea birds. At first they mistook these for the cries of human beings, but later discovered them to be 'only birds'–‘he manu kau noa iho’. Hence the name ‘Manu-kau’ was applied.

Congratulations to everyone who is also involved in the exhibition, & especially a huge shout out to the House of Natives Aotearoa! ‪#‎birdgang ‬‪#‎southside‬ ‪#‎creatives‬