Haumanu- Will you breathe for me ?

Introducing Haumanu (Will you breathe for me?)
This permanent, 9.3-metre-tall tree installation was commissioned by the Auckland War Memorial Museum and unveiled in 2021. Created by artists Will Ngakuru and Nicole Charles, Haumanu was harvested as large macrocarpa in Waimamaku, Northland, where it was first assembled, then carefully disassembled for transportation, and finally re-erected in the heart of the Museum’s Imaginarium.

The work invites us to examine our relationship with Te Taiao (the natural world), highlighting both its grandeur and its fragility. Constructed using traditional waka-building techniques and lashed from many trees into one mighty form, Haumanu—meaning “to revive”—asks a simple, profound question: “Will you breathe for me?”

The artists extend their deep gratitude to all who brought Haumanu to life, especially Nick Shah, John Charles, and long time friend and carver Whiu Waata, as well as Chris Mcbride and Pena Makoare.

Visit the Imaginarium on Level 1 to explore its hidden canopy designs, discover surprises, and reflect on our place within the living world.

Long time friend and close collaborator on many of my larger projects Whiu Waata (right hand side) has been an invaluable support over many years.