This event presented the waka prototype to invited guests and the general public for the first time. It provided an
opportunity to learn more about the people behind the project, view preliminary plans and drawings, and to learn about the creative journey to date.
A partnership project with Wintec's Māori achievement, this event was held in the social space of the Engineering building at Wintec's Rotokauri campus. Students and staff from across Engineering, Trades, Early Childhood Education, Media Arts and the Centre for Business Information Technology and Enterprise who have been involved, were given an opportunity to show their work.
The interactive waka sculpture is set to grace Hamilton’s Ferrybank Reserve on the Waikato River for the 2018 Matariki celebrations led by Wintec and key partners Hamilton City Council and Longveld Limited. The steel structure will reach nearly seven metres in height, and along with motion sensors and surround sound will depict key elements of Matariki for visitors to interact with.