Manu Kopere, ‘Kō Māui me tōna ika’ (1990), Newtown Library, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, Mar 2026

Wellington City Council

Roger Shand

Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Manu Kopere, 'Kō Māui me tōna ika' (1990)

Manu Kopere, Untitled [Newtown Library poupou] (1990), Newtown Library, Newtown Library, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Main support pillars, Newtown Library, 13 Constable Street, Newtown, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Manu Kopere (art collective), Untitled [Newtown Library poupou] (1990)

Manu Kopere, Untitled [Newtown Library kowhaiwhai] (1990), Newtown Library, Newtown Library, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, Nov 2025

Manu Kopere (art collective), Untitled [Newtown Library kowhaiwhai] (1990)

Manu Kopere was an art and design collective based at Hongoeka Marae in Plimmerton. The aim of the group was to support and promote Toi Māori Arts. Participating artists of Manu Kopere included 

, Brian Gunson, Cameron Shaw, Wiremu Grace, Tippy Bevan, and Tana Salzmann. Kiriwai Tapuku was the Manu Kopere administrator.

In 1990 Wellington City Council’s City Architect, Roger Shand, approached the group to produce a number of works for the Newtown Library. Manu Kopere was originally established as a Government Restart Scheme. Manu Kopere supported the carving of the Hongoeka wharetipuna, Te Hekemairaro as it was being built.

Manu Kopere, ‘Kō Māui me tōna ika’, poupou and kōwhaiwhai (1990), Newtown Library, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington