Tai Aroha – Tide of Love

Tai Aroha captures aroha as a sustaining force. Like the tide, it moves through us in cycles of calm and power, always returning to uplift and connect us. It reminds us that love is not still or singular; it ebbs and flows, shaping us as much in stillness as in motion.

This taonga speaks to the enduring strength of whānau and the balance between giving and receiving. Just as the tide nourishes the shore, aroha sustains the heart, a constant rhythm that grounds us in connection, compassion, and care.

Artist's Note

Created by Caleb Kutia of Tekotiri Ltd, Tai Aroha was carved as part of the Te Haerenga (The Journey) collection for Art in the Park 2025. The flowing kōwhaiwhai forms represent the heartbeat of aroha, waves of emotion and movement that mirror the tides of Tangaroa.

This piece is a reminder that love, in all its forms, has the power to restore balance, to carry us forward when we feel adrift, and to return us home to ourselves and to each other.