THE PEOPLES’ DOMINION
PUBLIC ART AREA PLAN
Albert Eden & Puketapapa Local Boards
November 2012
do·min·ion
(d -m n y n) n.
1. Control or the exercise of control; sovereignty: "The devil . . . has their souls in his possession and under his dominion" (Jonathan Edwards).
2. A territory or sphere of influence or control; a realm.
3. often Dominion Abbr. Dom. One of the self-governing nations within the British Commonwealth.
4. dominions Christianity See domination.
“The Premier was convinced that New Zealand’s only hope lay in being designated in the World’s Metropolis
by some high-sounding, mouth-filling term. So to-day, with the gracious consent of the King and his Ministers,
our land has become a Dominion, and our people dominionites”
Feilding Star 26 September 1907 (Dominion Day)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
THE SOCIAL LANDSCAPE
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
3
1. INTRODUCTION
This document outlines key considerations and recommendations for a Dominion Road public art area plan. It responds to both the Albert Eden and
Puketapapa Local Boards desire to see this 7 kilometre long ‘iconic’ road as a core linking idea which crosses and connects the two Local Board areas. The
report supports the idea of focusing initial public art thinking in this way and suggests that both Local Boards contribute to an integrated – but regionally
differentiated, in recognition of local issues and opportunities – approach to public art that sees Dominion Road as a central ‘spine’, around which other
public art interventions and activities are developed across the wider Local Board areas.
Dominion Road has a number of distinctive advantages that make it well suited to playing this core ‘spine’ idea:
 Physical: Dominion Road runs over 7 kilometres in a largely straight line, close to two major and historically important Maunga (Maungawhau to
the north and Puketapapa/Pukewiwi to the south)1, across a series of swamps, underground water systems and undulating ridges.
 Infrastructural: Dominion Road commands attention as one of the central Auckland’s most extensive arterial transport routes
 Social: As it traverses an area from close to the City’s CBD to almost to the shores of the Manukau Harbour Dominion Road provides an
unusually rich ‘cross section’ of contemporary Auckland society; socio-economically, ethnically and culturally. This occurs within an area with rich
human heritage, from Maori settlement, through colonial settlement and expansion to post-colonial immigrant settlement
 Popular Culture: Dominion Road, renamed by the State as New Zealand became a Dominion in 1907, has arguably become a very ‘people’s
place. The iconic Mutton Birds song ‘Dominion Road’ makes its name – and aspects of its form and social life –known throughout New Zealand. No
less related to the area, those less associated in many New Zealander’s mins, is the well known song ‘Bathe in the River’ from the movie ‘No 2’.
Other songs by contemporary New Zealand musicians contain references to Dominion Road or the surrounding streets and neighbourhoods. This,
together with its diverse cultural and retail mix, underpinned by ethnic food, its excellent transport services and connections, adequate recreational
facilities and a growing number of ‘citizens’ events underpins the idea that Dominion Road is a ‘well loved’ place/idea.
2. BACKGROUND
The strategy of focussing on Dominion Road stems from Auckland Transport’s planned upgrade of Dominion Road2. In late 2010, the former Auckland City
Council undertook public consultation for a proposal, which was to focus on improving public transport and cycling links via bus lanes and cycle lanes. In
2011 Auckland Transport began reviewing the Dominion Road Upgrade project and revised the plans to address some of the key feedback received
through the consultation process. This included the provision of ‘park-lets’ and sites for public art, with some funding available as part of the capital costs of
transport upgrade. This is now unlikely.
1
2
Plus Three Kings and Owairaka and Maungakiekie
http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/dominion-road
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
4
Auckland Transport is currently investigating a range of options and their likely costs/benefits. The Auckland Transport board is expected to make a
decision on the preferred option for upgrading Dominion Rd in October 2012. While the outcome of that plan is now uncertain, and is unlikely to be
realised in its full proposed form, as a starting point for a strategic approach to thinking about public art provision across the two Local Board areas it has
continuing relevance and merit.
Noting the ongoing nature of Auckland Transport’s consideration of Dominion Road the recommendations contained in this report are
designed to be appropriate to whatever is decided in that respect. Importantly, while the detail of the plan which was the starting point
for thinking about Dominion Road in terms of public art may change, the idea of anchoring a public art strategy across the two Local
Board areas remains a very sound one.
3. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
Public art can often be seen as a stand-alone stream of activity, with its prime purpose being to add aesthetic value to public spaces and in so doing improve
the quality and sense of the built and natural environment. Some of the great works of public art achieve this admirably, adding significant tangible and
intangible value to a place and the life of people in that place. In the current context, however, noting the complex and overlapping areas of responsibility
each Local Board has, it is recommended that a wider set of outcomes is sought through investment in public art.
In terms of the two Boards, the Albert Eden Local Board oversees the northern end, closest to the CBD, and the Puketapapa Board oversees the southern
end, closest to the Manukau. The Landscape Road intersection is the boundary between the two Local Board areas. The two Boards and the communities
they serve have both similar and quite different issues. In many ways these are directly as the result of the story of Dominion Road, a key arterial road that
moves from close to the CBD (and Auckland’s world-famous Waitemata harbour), in an area of high property values and associated socio-economic factors
– over 7 kilometres southwards, away from the CBD, almost to the shores of Auckland’s ‘other’ harbour, the Manukau. The fact of its geographical
expansiveness, running out from the core of the City to its edges and the historical expansion of settlement out from the City along that axis, defines the
Road – and its stories and the stories of its peoples – to a significant degree.
To a greater or lesser degree, both Local Boards have initiatives and issues across the following areas:
 Arts, culture & recreation
 Economic development
o Retail
 Place making & identity making
o Tourism
 Community cohesion
o Events
 Community safety
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
5
4. DOMINION ROAD – what’s in a name?
Dominion Road is a major historical arterial road in Auckland, New Zealand, running north-south across most of the central Isthmus. The road is also a
major public transport route which carries 50,000 bus passengers each week, making it one of the few roads in Auckland on which similar or greater
numbers of people travel by public transport than by private car. It achieved some fame by The Mutton Birds' 1993 song, ‘Dominion Road’.
The Road started life as an access-way to farm subdivision and emerged as ‘Mt Roskill Road’, connecting the outlying Mt Roskill area with the city. In 1907 it
was renamed ‘Dominion Road’.
The naming is significant and bears value for an emerging ‘Dominion Road’ idea that is larger than the name of a 7 kilometre strip of tarmac. As Wikipedia
tells us “On 26 September 1907 the colony of New Zealand ceased to exist. New Zealand became a dominion within the British Empire. For a few years
some New Zealanders celebrated ‘Dominion Day’ on 26 September with parades and public events. Some banks and law firms closed, with a few keeping
up the tradition until the 1950s. Various groups brought the word ‘dominion’ into their titles. In Wellington, the Dominion newspaper began to be published.
When Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward read the proclamation of dominion status from the steps of Parliament on 26 September 1907, he marked an
important symbolic shift in New Zealand’s perceptions of nationhood. This would, he hoped, remind the world that New Zealand was an important player
in its own right”.
There was, however, some scepticism among the populace as to whether this was indeed a change of any real significance. Dominion Day was marked on
26 September for a few years but fell out of favour quickly. The only current official observance of the day is as a Provincial Anniversary Day in South
Canterbury, and is celebrated on the fourth Monday of September. The social, ethnic, cultural and economic world that exists in and around Dominion
Road in 2012 is far removed from what Ward and his ministers could have foreseen. Far from being an expression of the hand of the State, defining the
City or country’s future, it appears more as an organic, fluid definer of what the City and Country will become. Perhaps it is time for a ‘Dominion Road
Day’?
This report outlines a series of site-related approaches to thinking about the provision of public art that might meaningfully respond to these issues, and
play a critical role in building a 21st C sense of ‘Dominion Road’ as an idea of Aucklandness as much as just a physical location. Or, put another way, a place
full of historical, contemporary and evolving future meaning.
Half-way down Dominion Road
This is possible because ‘Dominion Road’ is already well known and well loved idea – if not a well expressed or co-ordinated one. Its name is the title of an
iconic New Zealand popular song by the Muttonbirds, the lyrics of which convey a real sense of place as well as, in framing the term ‘half-way down
Dominion Road’ provide a very useful key to the road’s story, magic and mystery:
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
6
Dominion Road is bending,
Under it's own weight,
Shining like a strip
Cut from a sheet metal plate,
'Cause it's just been raining.
......
But it's getting better now,
He rests his head on the window sill,
He watches the city,
He can see the antennas in the hills
From the half-way house,
Half-way down Dominion Road,
Half-way down,
Half-way down,
Half-way down Dominion Road.
Don McGlashan Dominion Road
There has been debate in New Zealand as to where exactly "halfway down Dominion Road" actually is. Over time the exact location of the halfway point
on the road now know as Dominion Road has changed many times, as the road has been extended. The most recent extension – known as ‘Dominion
Road extension’ was built after the song was written. Wikipedia informs us that ‘the song's music video suggests that halfway down Dominion Road is the
intersection of Peary Road and Dominion Road, and much of the video's footage shows the area between the road's Balmoral shops and Mt. Roskill shops’.
Today Dominion Road is 7 kilometres long, meaning its literal halfway point is now Landscape Road (by chance, the Local Board boundary).
From nobles to rascals
The Road has always emanated and been numbered from it’s the northern end – its original name, Mt Roskill Road, simply naming its far-off destination. To
an extent Dominion Road has been and remains a Road of Two Halves – adding a fresh dimension to the idea of ‘halfway down’ – and this, roughly relates
to the current Local Board boundary division. If the northern end of the Road was once the home of property owners, farmers, and the upwardly mobile
merchant classes the southern zone was, in addition to landowners and Chinese market gardeners, the realm of ‘rascals’, gay bachelors and miscreants in
folklore and historical accounts3
Indeed, one version of the mystery that is the origin of the name ‘Roskill’ is that it is a folk pronunciation of ‘Rascal’, something given new life in the 2006
movie ‘No 2’ filmed in the area, renamed Mr Raskil. This sense of a road with two halves remains true today though in many respects the nature of their
difference, the point at which the changes occur along its length are increasingly fluid and blurred. As this change continues, Dominion Road’s identity is
likely to remain highly organic in terms of its occupancy and visitation.
3
Ready, Jane: ‘Not Just Passing Through; the making of Mt Roskill’ Auckland Council 2007
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
7
Transport connector: Dominion Road in the 1900s, showing its role as a typical ‘tram era’ street and in 2012 (with major links to the CBD via Ian McKinnon Drive and
South & West Auckland via State Highway 20).
Getting there / Being there
Along with its changing length, Dominion Road also continues to be modified by the City’s growing transport needs, population size and make-up and real
estate values. Key to its story and character is the fact that it is articulated by the series of ‘villages’ along its length (listed from the north):
Albert-Eden
 View Road
 Eden Valley
 Balmoral
Landscape Road boundary
Puketapapa
 Mt Roskill
 Wesley
 Mt Roskill South
 Waikowhai
Historically, after Dominion Road grew from a farm access-way to a thoroughfare the east/west lanes grew also, creating a series of thoroughfares that
connected the north/south tram streets (Dominion Road, Manukau Road etc). This created a series of significant points of entry and access to Dominion
Road for drivers travelling across the isthmus. The opening of the South Western Motorway (SH20) has created another major ‘gateway’ to and from
Dominion Road, foregrounding it’s name to a new group of Aucklanders, those travelling to and from the South. Once the Waterview Connection is
completed, making it a true South to West motorway, it will be one of the region’s most highly used routes, being both a South-West link but also,
potentially, being an option for a future transit through the Auckland urban area for North/South travellers seeking to bypass the City.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
8
Currently, none of the many points of entry to Dominion Road is signalled – beyond basic requirement street signing. So while it is a
potentially a ‘big idea’ in terms of a sense of place and destination and story (with likely potential in terms of local tourism, generation of
local identity and pride and economic development, it is not adequately expressed or ‘framed’. This results in a very low level of clarity
in terms of the ‘Dominion Road’ story commencing, no matter which approach is being used.
Equally, arrival by train is via Kingsland Station or Mt Eden Station, neither of which relate directly to Dominion Road. Of the two, Kingsland Station is seen
as the best arrival point, allowing a short walk via the Eden Park area and existing public art works by Billy Apple, and along Walters Road to the Eden
Valley shopping precinct on Dominion Road. The proposed new inner city rail plan reinforces Dominion Road’s historical and future strategic importance
as a transport link. As noted above, no ‘Gateway projects’ – as in entry to the Local Board areas - are recommended. But thought should be given to
articulating existing projects as main points of entry and interest for those wanting to engage in a ‘Dominion Road art’ experience.
Differing degrees of engagement in Public art
The Puketapapa Local Board notes that there is likely to be a different level and type of familiarity and engagement with the idea of ‘Public Art’ by residents
at different points of Dominion Road. While at the northern end, the adjacency to the CBD and the increasingly land value delivers a population more
conversant with the tradition of public art (though it must be said that there has been a low level of investment in public art to date), at the southern end
there is a greater focus on a programme of public art discussions and events that build engagement in what public art can be. There is significant value for
evolving a distinctive, values-based and value bearing approach to public art in this ‘road of two ends’ situation. Careful attention to diverse community
needs, within a clear overarching narrative framework, should over time ensure a cross-fertilisation of ideas and outcomes – mixing an understanding of
what public art has traditionally been, with an evolving sense of what it can be in a 21st Century Dominion Road-focused idea of Auckland and Aucklanders.
The combination is seen as an excellent starting point if a distinctive and integrated set of outcomes - aligned to place and identitymaking, micro tourism, community safety and cohesion and genuine economic development - is to be assisted by a public art strategy.
A key consideration in this respect will be identifying the correct balance between permanent and temporary project outcomes. In
defining this, thought should be given to the value of the idea of an annual commitment (ie a ‘permanent’ idea) to a temporary project –
such as a Song Tree Festival (see Appendix 1), associated with a Song Food Festival.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
9
5.
A CORE STORY
Dominion Road’s great advantage as a central idea for a public art plan across the two Local Board areas is that it is already a ‘story’ in the minds of many
Aucklanders and New Zealanders. And its ‘legendary’ status is principally positive. The opportunity, building on this, is to flesh out that story in a way that
adds meaning, authenticity, adventure and enjoyment. In almost all ways, the potential of the place and name that is Dominion Road (and its environs) is
substantially bigger and better than the current view of it.
“My first flat was in a house just off a road that was just off Dominion Road.
We sat around that night listening to the Mutton Birds’ song...”
Local interviewee
A well designed and strategic public art Area Plan has the ability, in concert with other initiatives, will play a key role in building engagement in a 21st
Century ‘Dominion Road’ story, and in so doing to articulate a meta-narrative that incorporates and delivers value across the many characterful villages and
areas throughout the two Local Board’s regions. More than in any other way, it is through this focus on a ‘Dominion Road Core Story’ that public art can
play a strategic and integrating role as part of the Local Board’s wider considerations and initiatives.
Core Story objectives
To achieve this, it is recommended that the objectives of a Core Story for the Area Plan should be to:
 Build on, amplify and contemporaries the popular understanding in ‘Dominion Road’ as a place and as an idea
 Create a clear sense of ‘Dominion Road’ as a place and an idea that has the road itself as the central ‘spine’ of a well articulated set of villages
and wider environs
 Ensure a high degree of active local ownership and active wider-community buy-in and engagement in ‘Dominion Road’ as a place and idea
 Allow a shared ‘telling’ across a range of existing websites, events programmes and promotions (including Business Associations, Cultural
Groups, Art Festivals etc)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
10
Based on these objectives, the following set of narrative elements are proposed, as a basis for identifying the location, nature and themes of public art
outcomes:
1. Landscape
The landscape through which Dominion Road traverses, ‘bending under its own weight’, is one rich in geological history and associated human stories
and modification. The key elements are:
a. Maunga: two Maunga which preside over it – Maungawhau to the north and Puketapapa/Pukewiwi to the South – are significant landmarks and,
with the advent of the Tamaki Collective, likely to become increasingly important ‘places’ for Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland. , and from these
other significant Maunga (Owairaka, Three Kings, Maungakiekie). Evidence of volcanic nature of Auckland isthmus, therefore geological, cultural,
economic significance to region, City and wider NZ
b. Swamps and underground water systems: Swamps and underground water systems
c. Hills & ridgelines: Undulations of the landscape (a result of the first two) . Dominion rises and falls through a landscape that is now all but lost.
But it provides a fascinating connecting pathway through what has been and is a remarkably specific geographical region. And this geography has
been traditionally, and is contemporarily, significant to people.
d. Trees: Along this series of undulating planes there are significant trees. In some instances these may provide important sites for ‘place making’ and
the overall articulation of Dominion Road as a progression of villages along a sequence of significant landscape points
Mt Roskill shops looking north: the relationship between Maungawhau, ridgelines, trees and low-lying former swamps is clear. The arrow indicates the Shackleton
Road area; at this point a small series of hills needed to be removed to allow Dominion Road to progress further south. This sense of Dominion Road as traversing a
very specific and geologically, culturally and historically resonant landscape is currently 'invisible’
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
11
Hochstetter’s 1862 geological map: showing prominence of Maunga (red), ridges (yellow) and swamps (blue) and underground water systems. Dominion Road is
shown as black dotted line.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
12
2. Settlement & People
Dominion Road – and the area it traverses – has been a site of human settlement from the earliest times..
There are three distinct waves of human settlement of the area
a. Maori: The Maunga and the flat lands surrounding them were used as pa, kainga and stone-walled gardens by Maori before European purchase
and settlement. In early land sales to Maunga became critical ‘boundary’ markers (see below)
b. Pakeha: As land was subdivided a series of access ways developed. In time these were paved with scoria quarried from the Maunga. Trams
were established and gradually tramlines were extended, in stages, as far as Mt Albert Road. As Auckland grew Dominion Road became an
increasingly important arterial route, as well as a key strip for changing generations of property owners, retailers and residents. Post-war
provision of state housing for returned servicemen propelled the development of Mt Roskill, until then a ‘food basket’ for Auckland, with a
focus on farming and market gardening.
c. New settler /migrant: In recent years Dominion Road has become home to an increasing number of new migrants – principally from Asia. A
significant number of refugee migrants from a range of countries live in the Puketapapa Local Board area. This has seen a proliferation of
multinational food and languages – with Dominion Road being a ‘hero’ indicator of Auckland’s reputation as one of the most diversely
populated cities in the world.
Early ownership boundaries: From In Old Mt Albert by Dick Scott (Dominion Road shown in red)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
13
Arguably, in a linear sense of ‘progress’ and history as each ‘wave’ arrives, its focus of activity ‘obscures’ the central ideas of the previous history. The
Public Art Plan should seek to create conversations across and between these layers and streams.
Distilling a core story for the Dominion Road proposition
Looking at Dominion Road as longitudinal site, made up of a number of urban villages centred along a 7 kilometre strip of road, and considering the
twin ideas of 1) Landscape and 2) Settlement the following cores story is suggested as a narrative and conceptual framework for public art – and related
events, promotions, activities.
CORE IDEA:
The Social landscape
Dominion Road proposition is clearly framed as a platform made up of two key ideas:
 Toi Tu Te Whenua: the enduring living natural land upon which we live
 He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata: Our living as continuously contemporary expression of living heritage
Clearly, these two key ideas are generic and applicable to any place. Therefore they are further distilled, in authentic relationship to
this place’s and these peoples’ histories and stories, to be expressed as::
 Tree (with a focus both on the truck, branches above the ground and the roots below the ground, thereby
articulating the stories of volcanic earth & rocks, underground water & swamps etc)
 Song
 Food
tree / song / food
FOOD SONG / TREE SONG / FOOD TREE / SONG TREE / TREE FOOD / SONG FOOD
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
14
song
food
geology /volcanic / underground water /
swamps / caves /
history / pre-history / ancestors
People in the landscape: The core story is centred on the person in the contemporary moment (and their expression/engagement in food & song) in relationship to
the ‘tree’ (articulating a sense of what lies both above and below the ground)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
15
FOOD SONG TREE SONG
FOOD TREE SONG TREE
TREE FOOD SONG FOOD
A narrative framework provides the basis of ensuring both an overall cohesion and clarity while, at the same time, providing a myriad of ‘stepping off’ points for
artists, musicians, events developers, business promotions etc. This is seen as critical to balancing equally important requirements – the need for a focused Dominion
Road proposition and the need for an expression that excites, celebrates and engages diversity
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
16
6.
ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL SITES AND APPROACHES
As outlined in the first part of this report, this Public Art Area Plan seeks to establish a clearly expressed single organising idea around ‘Dominion Road’ –
as a stretch of tarmac and as a bigger idea of a constantly evolving Auckland. In this respect it differs from Area Plans which seek to identify a series of
prominent but separate sites that are each well suited to formal pieces public art. In this plan, public art interventions are seen as a critical element in a
wider and strategically integrated plan, one that facilitates, supports or adds a dimension to other undertakings, such as local tourism, heritage, community
safety, community identity and cohesion – and an overall sense of place making.
As Professor Paul Spoonley of Massey University4 has commented, the longitudinal nature of the migrant settlement and business activity along an arterial
route is unusual internationally. The more common outcome of new migrant communities is polycentric ‘ethnoburbs’, with their own centre (similar to
nearby Sandringham). Indeed, both physically, and in terms of its historic and contemporary stories of settlement and occupancy, it is Dominion Road’s
longitudinal form, rising and ‘bending under its own weight’ as it moves through a singular landscape that defines its character and story.
In assessing potential sites this report seeks to clarify two key ideas to act as ‘coupled’ organising principles and overarching themes for a public art plan.
These are:
A. TREES (as markers of landscape)
There are significant trees, and/or stands of trees, on both Maunga and at the following key locations along Dominion Road. Trees are used as ‘heroes’
to reconnect the visitor, the community to the wider story of the landscape that sits beneath – and towers over, human settlement in the area. Once
one tree becomes aware of them, their prominence as ‘waypoints’ is unmistakeable:
1. Bellevue Reserve
2. Ballantyne Square
3. Potters Park
4. Jasper Avenue & Dominion Road School
5. Winstone Park entrance, Puketapapa
B. SONG & FOOD (as the ‘voice’ of people)
For all people, belonging in a place relies to some extent on being recognised and having a voice. Professor Paul Spoonley notes this is
particularly true of new migrants, settling in a new place. He goes on to speak of new ‘linguistic landscapes’, where identity and belonging is
4
See: Spoonley, P & other authors: Integration of Immigrants Programme Research Reports 1-2010 – 5/2010; Massey University 2010
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
17
expressed through language, as expressed in naming, food (an increasing number of Dominion Road eateries have English as a secondary
language, if used at all) , song, speech. In the interests of finding a distinctive and single minded idea as part of the Dominion Road
proposition, human settlement is distilled to the joyful & universal; to food and song (note: more specific than ‘music’ as it is about voice
and language and music)in many languages - from song to waiata to Christmas carol to hiva to 歌etc.
There are significant already songs associated with Dominion Road and its environs, including:
 Don McGlashan / The Muttonbirds; Dominion Road
 Hollie Smith: Bathe in the River (Mt Roskill) – also written by Don McGlashan
 Crowded House: Weather with you (written at 57 Mt Pleasant Street, as mentioned in the lyrics)
 Autumn Splendour: No sex in Sandringham
 Victoria Girling-Butcher: Summit Drive (Mt Albert)
 Matthew Bannister / The Weather: Aroha Avenue
Singer/songwriters with a direct relationship with the area include:
 Graeme Brazier
 Mika
 Mt Eden Dubstep
 Sam R B
With the ‘anchor’ foundation of the Muttonbirds’ ‘title track’ and support from Hollie Smith’s well-known and anthem-like Bathe in the River
from the ‘other’ end of Dominion Road, this is a significant enough basis to claim a ‘Dominion Road + Song’ proposition as a credible signature
idea. The ‘classic’ nature of Dominion Road and Weather with you and the cult/classic status of Bathe in the River provide the base for a
proposition with local, regional, national and international (Crowded House) credibility and recognition.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
18
PROPOSED DOMINION ROAD PUBLIC ART FRAMEWORK
KEY THEME
Landscape
People
Expressed as
Trees
Song & food
Artworks
(permanent)
Bellevue Reserve
Ballantyne Square
Jasper Aver
Winstone Park entrance
Roskill South
Waikowhai Reserve
Song trees (GPS apps)
Song poles (at key bus stops)
Naming project (multi-language)
Maungawhau
Puketapapa
Eden Park (Billy Apple)
Railway stations:
(Mt Albert & Kingsland & Mt Eden)
Sandringham shop fronts
Artworks
(temporary)
Dominion Road School
Parklets
Potters Park
Mt Roskill village
Parklets
Auckland Theatre Company’s
Dominion Road Stories
Events
Potter Park Song Tree Event
Love my Mountain (Puketapapa)
Potter’s Park Song Tree Event
Dominion Road Stories (songs?)
East Asia Food Festival
Taste of Puketapapa Festival
Love My Mountain events (currently
Maungawhau and planned for
Puketapapa)
Walking trails
Between:
View & Bellevue Roads
Jasper & Cambral Aves
And possibly:
Balmoral Rd intersection (East /West)
Between:
View & Bellevue Roads
Jasper & Cambral Aves
And possibly:
Balmoral Rd intersection (East /West)
Business Association
and related websites
Brand/ arrival
Key linking ideas (existing)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
19
Temporary projects, events & activities
The Albert Eden Local Board area, while historically poor in public art investment, is a developed CBD fringe area that might naturally pursue an orthodox
approach to the provision of public art. The Local Board, however, have a strong desire to pursue a strategic approach whereby investment in public art
contributes to multiple outcomes –across local tourism, community identity and cohesion, economic development etc. Conversely, at the Puketapapa Local
Board there is a strong sense that there is currently no strong understanding of what public art can be. This has led the Board to prefer temporary
approaches that build the conversations around public art’s potential in the area. Because of this the Puketapapa Local Board has expressed and desire to
focus on temporary and events-based public art projects in the short to medium term. They too seek outcomes which support strategies across multiple
community outcomes – community safety, anti-graffiti, lighting, community identity & cohesion.
In some ways the two Board’s positions underpin the ‘Road of two halves’ idea that has been and remains a persistent and expected characteristic of what
is a long arterial road that runs outwards from a city centre to the margins of the city. Smartly handled, the current moment allows an opportunity to turn
this from a statement of difference (on one level this is a split between a sense of the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’) to a statement of implicit and rich diversity.
A public art approach that focuses in a single-minded way of delivering an integrated outcome based on components specific to each area can play a
significant role in articulating this idea – through a clearly developed and richly expressed ‘Dominion Road’ concept.
Micro-tourism; the importance of a single-minded narrative ‘spine’ to open up value for the wider region
As a first priority, the overarching themes outlined in this plan should be most powerfully expressed ON Dominion Road to build critical mass and
understanding around a ‘signature’ idea. Thereafter ‘Dominion Road’ will provide a framework for public art projects across the other villages and areas in
the two Local Board areas. Just as ‘Queen Street’ has over the years become synonymous with the Auckland CBD, a Dominion Road-centred proposition
is seen as creating an authentic, desirable, credible and accessible ‘name’ and proposition that, once established, has a better than even chance of providing a
platform of real advantage across the number of outcome areas sought by the Local Boards. There is arguably no other single idea within either Board’s
jurisdiction that has the opportunity to achieve this.
Based on this, this report proposes a plan that sees existing, redeveloped and new associated elements – such as heritage trails, artworks and crossmarketing initiatives- to establish and reinforces an understanding of Dominion Road’s relationship, proximity and connectedness to:
 The other key Maunga (Owairaka, Three Kings, Maungakiekie)
 The other village centres & public spaces, including:
o Sandringham; with its strong ethic and cultural character
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
20
Mt Eden; The Village Centre would provide a great base for a regular series of artists’ studio visits (needing to require no more certainty
that a visit will leave from the Centre on the first Saturday of every month, for example)
o Mt Albert; articulated by train and by trail (with a key ‘story’ link to Owairaka, from Mt Roskill village)
The City’s radial and cross-city roads and public transport connections
The rail link – from Mt Albert, Morningside, Kingsland, Mt Eden, Grafton, noting the value of connections to:
o Kingsland & Mt Eden (as entry points to Dominion Road)
o Mt Albert and Owairaka
o Grafton and the Auckland Domain & Auckland Museum
o


NOTE: there is seen as being particular value in Mt Albert / Owairaka, as expressed through the current railway station refurbishment. Thought should be
given to any design and public art projects being aligned with the sense of ‘Social Landscape’ and ‘Contemporary Heritage’ outlined in this report.
Gateway projects
In neither Local Board area are literal ‘Gateway’ projects advised. To most Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland the boundaries between Local Board areas
will not be obvious and/or relevant and are subject to change over time. As such it is recommended to avoid any attempt to create meaning and community
cohesion around the idea of the Local Board area, in favour of creating a sense of ‘arrival and commencement’ to a coherent ‘Dominion Road’ place/idea
and, based on that, to build meaning and community cohesion around suburban village centres and recreational places within those areas. The latter are less
likely to change over time, are the result of significant history and are already identified by and with people and communities.
Permanent versus temporary/ active versus static/participative versus artist-only
While the appropriate balance between these approaches is likely to differ across the two Local Board areas, in general an approach to public art that is
active, event-based and participative is likely to best deliver strategic outcomes in thee Dominion Road context. Indeed, the high level of events planning
and development underway in both Local Board areas provides an excellent and well aligned activity stream for a public art programme.
Consideration has, however, been given to ensuring transitory activity based projects are ’anchored’ by initiatives that are either physically permanent or
result in continuous expression. To achieve a sustained advantage from a public art programme developed as part of an ongoing precinct-specific multiple
outcome project requires this.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
21
6. ALBERT-EDEN
Within the overarching area plan framework proposed above the following sites/projects are recommended:
I.
Maungawhau
The earthworks on the slopes of Maungawhau are the most significant piece of human ‘sculpture’ in the region. In sheer scale and scope the fortified
Maungawhau dominates all other elements – natural and human-made – within the immediate vicinity. For many Aucklanders, however, the volcanic
Maunga that dominate the City’s skyline have become almost invisible. This results in a failure to grasp the value of their powerful stories and physical
presence in the way we ‘tell’ and ‘show’ Auckland to ourselves and our visitors.
Ngati Whatua leader Ngarimu Blair and Maungawhau
Maungawhau is critical to any idea of public art in the region, and across Auckland. The advent of the Tamaki Collective5 and iwi management will mean
that the public art uses the cone and summit have traditionally been used for will change. As a new course evolves Maungawhau’s pre-eminent presence
and meaning should become more significant. Any public art projects for Maungawhau should be framed and evolved with iwi. That said, where
possible an effort should be made to align a new major work on Maungawhau with the framework laid out in this Area Plan – which has been developed
with a view to providing possible conceptual and outcome alignment.
5
Circumstances have prevented a discussion of this document with Paul Majurey of the Tamaki Collective as of 2 November 2012
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
22
II.
A clear sense of arrival & commencement, City end
As it occupies the northern end of the region, Albert Eden is closest to the Auckland CBD and to key transport networks. This means it has a number of
points of arrival serviced by public transport and roading. Equally, however, such is the design of the connections, Dominion Road itself does not
‘commence’ from the north in a very clean or clear way. The arrival by road, from Ian McKinnon Drive or New North Road, is through a zone of
‘transitional’ linking roadways rather than an easily readable or coherent sense of street plan.
This is the opportunity for a public art work to create a significant impact and plant the seed of a ‘Dominion Road’ idea at the northern entrance. This
should ‘name’ the proposition and introduce two of the key themes of the proposition – trees and song.
Short to medium term
 There is a lack of clarity at the northern approaches and entry to Dominion Road. A public art intervention that provides a clear, single minded
entry point to (and exit point from) Dominion Road at the City end should be commissioned, made up of three integrated components:
o On the road surface between View Road and Bellevue Road6
o In or around the two trees that flank Dominion Road at Bellevue Park, with a view to reinforcing a sense of:
 Arrival from the City during the day and at night
 Ascension from Eden Valley when travelling towards the City
o Via an app based GPS audio point, triggering ‘Dominion Road’ songs - as you pass on foot or in the car or bus
 One or both components of this project could be of a permanent or short/medium term duration, though if the latter, planning should be based on
a continuous ‘refreshment’ of this site to maintain the sense of arrival and commencement.
NOTE: consideration should be given to ensuring any ‘Dominion Road’ signage is designed and specified to complement rather than compete with – or be
an integral part of - this project.
Medium to long term
 The Inner West Interchange in the proposed inner city rail system will increase the relationship between rail and egress to Dominion Road. The
refreshment or recasting of a significant arrival & commencement public art intervention should be factored into that project.
 Consider commissions that achieve a similar sense of arrival and exit in:
o Balmoral Road, immediately to the east and west of Dominion Road
6
As outlined on p18 This is one half of a project, the other on Dominion Road at Mt Roskill, between Jasper & Cambral Avenues
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
23
The Blue Road by Henk Hofstra, Holland (left and centre) and the proposed area of road between Bellevue and View Roads (right).
Puketapapa is clearly framed by the Bellevue Park trees. Choi Jeong Hwa installation (c) at the 2012 London summer festival ‘All Eyes On Korea’ Festival Breathing Trees (r)
in Camden, London, uses multi-colour LED lights positioned within two of the square’s largest trees to visually transform the canopy into the ‘lungs’ of the city
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
24
iii:
Ballantyne Square / Eden Valley shops
Medium to long term:
 A ‘song tree’ work, or programme of temporary works, utilising the trees in the Square is proposed. These are visible from View Road and from
the Dexter Avenue Rise adjacent to Potters Park.
Ballantyne Square: trees frame the Potters Park trees. Right; Konstantin Dimopoulos’ “The Blue Trees“ Vancouver Biennale
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
25
iv:
Potters Park
Potters Park is the most sizeable and strategically located recreational open space on the Albert Eden stretch of Dominion Road. It sits on one corner of
the major road intersection with Balmoral Road. 25,000 vehicles pass through this intersection daily on Dominion Road and 15,000 on Balmoral Road7. The
Park is faced, across Dominion Road, by the Mt Eden Memorial Hall – currently home to the Auckland Theatre Company - , the major indoor recreational
facility in the area. The intersection is also home to major fast food outlets and strip of varied food outlets, many under Asian management.
Potters Park is the most sizeable and strategically located public space in the Albert Eden section of Dominion Road
While it is not ‘half-way down’ Dominion Road it is in many ways a key ‘central’ place – both as it relates to the length of Dominion Road but also as it
relates to Aucklanders passing it on Balmoral Road, travelling east/west. Potters Park’s form and vegetation makes it a natural site for a signature
intervention, based on permanent, temporary and event-based projects.
When it proved impossible to see as residential sections, the original donor of Potters Park (Mr Frederick Potter), gave it to the City with a series of
conditions. While he did not wish it to be a place for sports, he was interested in play and recreational purposes.
7
7 day average Auckland Transport 2007 7 day average Auckland Transport
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
26
Short to medium term:
 Auckland Public Art & the Local Board should work with Auckland Council Parks & Reserves and SLIP to ensure the commissioning of a ‘splash pad’
for Potters Park involves an artist or designer in the design, using the pre-determined components as ‘found objects’.
 A major ‘song tree’ work should be commissioned for the large tree(s) on the north western corner ie on Dominion Road). This, together with the
trees at Bellevue Reserve and Jasper Avenue should be the principle components of a Dominion Road-long ‘song tree’ idea.
 The Local Board should involve all stakeholders and interested parties in using this installation to build interest in a highly participative Potters Park
‘Song Tree’ festival/event/programme that has the effect of establishing Potters Park as a key destination at the heart of a ‘Dominion Road’
proposition
The Bearpit Karaoke is a Sunday afternoon ‘must see’ in Berlin. A flea market with hundreds of people buying and selling old bikes, vintage clothes and
‘maker movement’ crafts complements people enjoying complimentary entertainment from skateboarders, circus performers and wannabe rock stars.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
27
Splashpad: New Zealand artists like Judy Darragh (2nd from left), Hannah & Aaron Beehre (3rd from left) and Tim Gruchy (right) have proven skills in using found objects
and interactive, ‘playable’ and sound sensor fountain technologies and LED projection media respectively
Medium to long term:
 Potters Park will make the ideal home for a major digital project that is the ‘hero’ expression of an interactive digital ‘Dominion Road Songs’
project, available for input online (via youtube). The project should include low cost presentation outlets in contributing shop and business window
spaces in all of the main villages along Dominion Road, from View Road to Roskill South.
 A live ‘Dominion Road Songs’ event or festival should be organised annually, with an aim of feeding into the ‘hero’ and distributed presentation
vehicles.
Crown Fountain Millennium Park, Chicago by Jaume Plensa. On a different scale/budget but nonetheless a relevant example of community participation & ownership
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
28
Local artists such as Janet Lilo (above left and below right), Dionne Fonoti (above right) and Tim Gruchy (below left) are well versed in projects of this sort
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
29
Relevant Janet Lilo links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8z33u0v8Gk&list=UUyxTVwL1sxM17UyuxhOvKkQ&index=1&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk_PpfOO-R0&feature=autoplay&list=UUyxTVwL1sxM17UyuxhOvKkQ&playnext=1
v
Distributed: art-signs & sound-poles & street furniture
Short to medium term:
 Work with Auckland Transport to:
o identify and build oportunities to install song poles at bus stops and/or GPS app-based song stations on Dominion Road.
o commission an artist and/or designer to generate a highly distinctive series of Dominion Road bus-stop-related signage stations, initially
limited to Dominion Road but designed with a view to roll out to related villages/trails etc
o commission cycle song trees and related furniture as part of an innovative public transport solution
‘Sounding Bus Stop’ (l) Legible London pedestrian signs installed by Transport for London (c) and the ‘Bike Tree’ (r)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
30
The Australian Government’s new Urban Design Protocol for Australian cities
“Creating places for people’ aimed at professionals and
the general public, opens with this poignant quote from Danish architect Jan Gehl
“...First life, then spaces, then buildings:
the other way around never works”
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
31
7.
Puketapapa
i.
Puketapapa Maunga
Puketapapa/ Pukewiwi and Arekatera Maihi, the carver of the kauri waharoa
Like Maungawhau Puketapapa is critical to any idea of public art in the region, and across Auckland. Unlike the more prominent Maungawahu, however,
this Maunga and issues relating to its name are less well known and less intact in terms of its original form. The advent of the Tamaki Collective and iwi
management will mean that the public art uses the cone and summit have traditionally been used for will change. As a new course evolves, Puketapapa’s
pre-eminent presence and meaning should become more significant. Any public art projects for Puketapapa should be framed and evolved with iwi.
That said, where possible an effort should be made to align a new major work on Puketapapa with the framework laid out in this Area Plan.
Consideration might be given to identifying a site for a formal public art commission that resulted in a work – be it from Maori and/or non-Maori artists
– that interfaced with the Dominion Road narrative framework by way of a work designed to act as a ‘singing tree’. The potential for this is suggested
by the long line of large scale outdoor sculptural ‘instruments’ - based on traditional Maori and Polynesian wind instruments and/or the Aeolian harp
tradition.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
32
SONG TREES: Britain’s Singing Ringing Tree (top left) is a 3 metre tall construction comprising pipes of galvanised steel which harness the energy of the wind to produce
a slightly discordant and penetrating choral sound covering a range of several octaves. Filipe Tohi’s Aotea (White Cloud) (top right), commissioned for Auckland Art Gallery’s
2012 Home AKL exhibition is based on traditional weaving patterns, has a gentle ‘Aeolian’ effect on a windy site. Phil Dadson’s TENANTENNAE (bottom) sound-sculpture,
launched at Connells Bay Sculpture Park, Waiheke Island
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
33
ii.
Community identity projects
Noting the Local Board’s clear sightedness in terms how best to engage the Puketapapa community in the idea of public art a number of participative
approaches focused on community identity and safety are proposed.
In the Short to medium term:
o Identify sites in Mt Roskill Village for the commissioning of an artist generated community-participation project focused on community
cohesion, diversity and connection
o Ensure this is well aligned with the fledgling business association, schools, culture and sporting groups
o Identify an existing website or establish a facebook page for participants to send their contributions to
o Keep it simple and user friendly
o Ensure it is social media-friendly
Projects such as those developed by American artist Candy Chang after Hurricane Katrina devastated communities in New Orleans, provide good examples
of public art outcomes that are low in cost and high in uptake, participation and meaning/identity generation. Calls for proposals for this type of public art
work in New Zealand are likely to generate significant interest, from practicing artists, designers and museum programme designers. The leading edge
thinking in museum programme and project design – best seen in Nina Simon’s Museum 2.0 blog http://museumtwo.blogspot.co.nz – is based on value
delivered through co-created participatory projects.
MUSEUM 2.0
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
34
The City Speaks by Candy Chang, New Orleans
Based on this kind of approach a project that simply provide chalkboard t-shirt silhouettes in the Mt Roskill Village, for local people to design their own TShirt for an OUR TOWN SONG using a ‘Roskill/Rascall/Raskil/Puketapapa/Pukewiwi’ moniker, to be photographed and posted online would generate a
great deal of engagement in the public art conversation, provide opportunities for a competition, Business Assoc promotions, merchandise, media etc.
rascal
ROSKILL
RASKIL
ROS
KIL
Our place/my art: Luna Park Chalk Art Festival, California (left) is a good example of a public art project that is owned by the community and achieves multiple bottomline outcomes. “The Festival brings together local businesses and chalk artists to the benefit of both, and to the public who gets to see the artwork that's created”.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
35
iii.
Mt Roskill Village
Short to medium term:
 An entry proposition similar to the Bellevue Park proposition, at Jasper Avenue
 A community participation project, centred in Mt Roskill Village but distributed through other villages, based co-created designs of the type
outlined on page 33 & 34
London’s ‘Breathing Trees’ installation aims to turn Russell Square’s canopy into the lungs of the city. It uses a series of multi-colour LED lights positioned within two of
the square’s largest trees to visually transform the canopy into the ‘lungs’ of the city, rising and falling to the sound of breathing and a beating heart.
Medium to long term:

As part of urban design, a work which creates village identity and enhances public safety using the tress in front of Dominion Road School
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
36
Humour & participation: Huron County’s Communitree (c) programme invites individuals and organisations to participate. An artist like Filthy Luker (r) uses a ‘one line
joke ’ approach to humour often frowned upon in contemporary art circles, but arguably well suited to public engagement and community building in this instance.
Choi Jeong Hwa: Colour pop. Celebrating Korean culture, the 2012 summer festival ‘All Eyes On Korea’ (l). The right project of this kind in the signatures tree on the
corner of Jasper Avenue, and outside Dominion Road School, will turn their high visibility into an expression of the ridgeline and a celebration of the village of Mt Roskill
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
37
The Firefly Grove is an interactive light and sound art installation in Rhode Island that mimics the fireflies’ illumination patterns. This project addresses the commonly heard
statement in Rhode Island of “where have all the fireflies gone?” and light pollution.
South of State Highway 1
Sites for consideration are Roskill South Village and the Manukau-harbour edge, ridgeline and southern slopes.
Tree-less: Roskill South village, looking north (with Maungawhau prominently visible) and south (note pylons).
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
38
iv: Roskill South
With the exception of the lower slopes of Puketapapa the suburban areas to the south of SH 20 do not have significant trees in public urban spaces.
Short to medium term:
 This ‘village’ should be incorporated into projects of the type outlined on page 33 & 34.
No trees? The ‘tree’ idea can be established through planting, topiary over armatures, or sculptural interventions, lighting etc
Tree planting as public art: Human designed interventions with nature – such as Indian ‘shaped’ trees, an installation of planting by an artist such as John Reynolds or an
aligned urban design/place making approach could be considered for an area like Roskill South
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
39
Medium to long term:
 Thought should be given to commission a permanent work such as :
o Tree planting as a public art work
o Trees in planter boxes
o The creation of ‘urban’ trees – as standalone objects, street furniture, bus stops. Shop veranda supports etc
o ‘Song tree’ projects
o ‘Food tree’ projects
Digital tree: Singapore's latest development (left) has finally blossomed with an imposing canopy of artificial trees up to 50 meters high towering over a vast urban oasis.
Solar Powered Street Lights designed for world cultural heritage sites designated by UNESCO, at Angkor Watt, Cambodia (right)
Noting the prominent electrical towers that cross the southern areas of Dominion Road Extension (linking this area to the Manukau harbour
and the south), options exist to think about more permanent engineered public art outcomes using new media, light etc. Commissions for this
type of work would open up a myriad of opportunities to take the wider narrative framework – song/ tree/ food – for a number of conceptual
directions.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
40
v: Waikowhai Park
Dominion Rd
Manukau Harbour
Waikowhai Park entrance is about 200 m from the southern end of Dominion Road, and is a recreational coastal park with broad views of the Manukau.
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
41
Waikowhai Park’s location – at the southern end of the Dominion Road extension and the shores of the Manukau Harbour – offers an opportunity to
consider a range of sites in a tree-rich coastal park. This is Dominion Road’s only coastal location, and it’s most unaffected ‘natural’ landscape location. The
Park’s recreational greenways and nature trails provide the opportunity for introducing a landscape-centric Dominion Road proposition - with a focus on
recreation, walking and cycling. The tidal nature of the Manukau carries with it an important story of an ‘other’, at times less favoured, Auckland - both in
terms of landscape and human settlement. As such the Park provides an interesting series of sites for public art, as both a somewhat unexpected ‘full stop’
to a CBD-centred Dominion Road proposition and as an introduction to an ‘Eco-Trail idea’ as a key underpinning concept of the Dominion Road
proposition.
Short term:
 Public events that resulted in ephemeral song-tree-food interventions could be developed as part of a City events programme.
Medium to long term:
 Participative and/or permanent public art works that work with the existing trees, landscape and natural and cultural history (which might
include linking stories about Puketapapa with Maunga on the southern side of the harbour) are recommended for this site. A strong focus on
the Manukau Harbour should be central to any project brief.
Temporary tree interventions: NZ group @platea’s Tree Blogging and Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
42
Participative practices: Artists like Tiffany Singh undertake projects that refer to non-western traditions of participation, sharing and exchange
Report prepared for Auckland Council Public Art Team
Tim Walker
November 2012
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
43
APPENDIX 1.
While ‘Public Art’ and ‘Events’ are separate streams of activity within the Council, thought should be given to an annual signature Dominion Road event.
More than anything else, this approach is the most likely to build profile, recognition, engagement and participation in a Dominion Road proposition.
As a hypothetical example, based on historical and current ideas and individuals, an annual ‘Dominion Road Song Tree’ Festival might draw together a
number of ‘ threads’ together to create a showcase for New Zealand song writing and original song performance (and participation). With a centre in
Potter’s Park – and along the length of Dominion Road – a song-focused event could be supported by participative art projects that create ‘song trees’
(literally, as per examples on page 41 of the report, or figuratively – including a ‘whakapapa’ of song? etc). While there is a great deal of focus on music
talent projects (a la American Idol, X Factor and NZs got talent) at present, there is little or no focus on generating and celebrating the art of song writing.
There is likely to be interest in addressing this within the champions and interested parties listed below, and initial discussions might open up opportunity
for a multi-party collaboration on a ‘popular’ song writing event.
Building on Dominion Road’s legitimate claim to be a credible ‘song-writing’ site, the following elements could be considered as possible elements in a
‘Dominion Road Song Tree’ Festival:
 VENUE: Potter’s Park (as hub) and Dominion Road villages (as sub-hubs) and online
 OUTCOMES:
o Song festival
o Testing interest in Potters Park/Dominion Road as possible ongoing ‘Bearpit’ karaoke venue
o School competition (see ‘Participation idea’ no 1 below)
o Participative Art project and event
o Tree lighting and ‘dressing’ project(s)
 POSSIBLE CHAMPIONS:
o Don McGlashan
o Nick Dwyer http://www.nzmusician.co.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/article/pi_articleid/2169
o Mike Chunn’s Play it Strange Trust http://playitstrange.org.nz/
o Mika http://mika.co.nz/#!/
o Neil Finn / Anika Moa / Hollie Smith /Graeme Brazier
 PARTIES WITH AN INTEREST IN PROGRESSING SONGWRITING:
o APRA http://www.apra.co.nz/
o SOUNDZ http://sounz.org.nz/
o Creative NZ (outside of Creative Communities funding any project support may need to be requested by a third party rather than Council)
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012
44

PARTICIPATION IDEAS:
o ‘Famous’ artists provide free tracks (eg: bass and/or Poi and/or Pacific Drumming and/or Korean Ajaeng and/or saxophone) to a ‘creative
commons’ resource, freely available for schools and individuals/groups to uplift, mix and match, and build songs around with online
presentation and judging
o A visual artist such as Tiffany Singh to develop a participate artwork that saw the trees in Potters Park and festooned with songs / lyrics /
ideas http://www.aucklandfestival.co.nz/events/fly-my-up-to-where-you-are-te-waharoa.aspx
o Auckland Theatre Company developing on from Dominion Road Stories to Dominion Road Songs (they’ve expressed interest in principle in
this)
o Busking and/or karaoke festival in Potters Park potential relationship with Maori TV Homai Te Pakipaki
http://www.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=535&pid=211
Noting the people involved in these threads, there would be a reasonable possibility of gaining interest from a broadcaster in covering some aspects of this.
MediaWorks and/or BFM and/or Maori Television are candidates. The value of MediaWorks is that it would deliver radio and television coverage
DOMINION ROAD AREA PLAN NOVEMBER 2012