A passage reborn through community creativity: Raungaiti Underpass Art Project 

Once a dark, graffiti-covered tunnel that tamariki and whānau would avoid, the underpass by Raungaiti Marae, beneath State Highway 27 (SH27), is being transformed through the Raungaiti Underpass Art Project. The tunnel is coming alive as a vibrant, welcoming space, full of colour and creativity. Work is still underway, but the changes are already making a real difference for the community.

The transformation has been led by Raungaiti Marae Deputy Chairperson Houata Ngati, the Raungaiti Marae Trust Committee, and supported by the wider community. Earlier this year, tamariki from local kura and kōhanga added their own Māori-inspired designs to the walls. Houata says the young artists, or rōpū kaitoi, are a key part of the kaupapa. Although some of their earlier work was affected by the weather, Houata plans to involve them in repairing their designs, ensuring their contributions remain a lasting feature of the underpass.

Artist Tawhiti Thompson has begun work on a durable mural featuring the Kaimai Ranges, Wairere Falls, and the Waharoa gateway. Council’s Kaimai Valley Services team cleaned up the site, repaired the lighting, and replaced the pump to keep the underpass dry, while a Pride of Place Community-Led Initiative Grant helped fund the mural. The project is a collaboration between Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, which owns the underpass, council, local iwi, and the Waharoa community.  

Houata emphasised the positive impact of the project. “Since the clean-up, almost all our whānau are using the underpass. Kids hop off the bus and roll through, chatting and smiling. Before, they were scared and would run across State Highway 27 to avoid it,” he says. 

Situated between Raungaiti Marae and the pā, the underpass is becoming a place of pride and connection for Waharoa. “A high-quality outcome like this can encourage whānau to care for their wider spaces. I want this to be a place they can count on,” Houata explains. 

He hopes the momentum will continue. Future plans include upgrading nearby gardens and berms, completing the reflecting wall with a mural of the Waihou River and Maungakawa, and enhancing the area for generations to come. To bring these ideas to life, Houata is seeking further funding and support from partners and the wider community. 

“The underpass is becoming a little jewel for the community,” Houata says. “Everyone should come and see it. The work Tawhiti has done speaks for itself. This is just the beginning. I’ll continue to recommunicate our ambitions with anyone willing to listen and help provide the resources needed to make it thrive.” 

The Raungaiti Underpass Art Project stands as a symbol of what can happen when a community comes together. It reflects the pride, creativity, and care whānau bring to the places they love.