Erebus
Memorial
Location
Parnell Rose Garden, Auckland (TÄmaki Makaurau)
Year
2019
Client
Auckland City Council, Daniel K. Brown (Design Tutor)
Erebus Memorial:
The Separation of Love
(Te Wehenga o Te Aroha)
On the morning of November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 left MÄngere airport, Auckland, for an 11-hour round trip that was to be a sightseeing flight to Antarctica. At 12.49 p.m. NZST, the aircraft crashed into the lower slopes of Mt Erebus killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. It was the worst civil disaster in New Zealand's history. Since then, the family members and the public have pushed for a discussion around a national memorial for the victims.
The origin of the design pays homage to the MÄori mythology of creation between the primal couple Ranginui (Sky Father) and PapatÅ«Änuku (Earth Mother). With a love so fierce they could not be apart, they held each other together in a loving embrace. Through this their children were created in the confined spaces between them, growing in the shrouded darkness. The children gathered and decided they needed to find a way to separate their parents finally so they could live in the light and seek an open world. The mighty TÄne Mahuta, God of forests and birds, laid on his back against his mother and pushed his feet up in the air against his father. This resulted in the lovers being torn apart, Leaving Ranginui to look down upon his children and Papa to remain below to nurture them. Much like this mythology story, the family members and their loved ones have been torn apart by this tragedy of seeking exploration. However, the distance between lands may be far apart but the memory of the dearly departed is remembered through the connection to the sky.
On approach to the memorial the visitors are greeted by the sentinel and protector of the site, Ranginui (Sky Father). As Visitors move forward, they are met by MÄori TÄniko patterns in the form of landscaping. The outside diamond patterns with the vertical staggered and alternating blocks represent Roimata Toroa (albatross tears) and Turuturu (falling raindrops). This portrays the tears of family members and Ranginui being separated from their loved ones. The inner diamond pattern is depicted by Te Niho Taniwha (The Teeth of the Taniwha) symbolising strength and resilience, an area where family members can gather and support one another. As you move down the ramp entry you are transported in the Te Tauwehe (The Separation). This divide acknowledges the torn rift that these shared stories, where people can acknowledge the embossed names of the lost on the walls. Progressing further through the memorial the visitors are met by a reflection pool; the 8 pavilions represent Rangi & Papaâs 8 children as well as the 8 nationalities that died on that tragic day. Lastly, shifted slightly off orientation to the site sits PapatÅ«Änuku (Earth Mother). The weathered Corten roof structures symbolise PapatÅ«Änukuâs fingers forever reaching out of the earth for her Lover and children. The Visitors then traverse through the memorial underneath the lookout structure of Papa and into the âEarthâ where it all began.
