Created in collaboration with Te Āwhina Marae, Tupuānuku is a corten steel sculpture representing the hue (gourd), a vessel of immense cultural significance. Installed at the entrance to the Papakāinga, the work connects to the Matariki star cluster and embodies themes of soil, cultivation, and cosmic order. The design draws on kōrero from Te Waiho Paratene (Te Ātiawa), whose carved motifs honour the movement of water and the awa of his tūpuna.

Fabricated by Tom Ellison, the project required advanced forming techniques to achieve the compound curves of the hue. Completed in December 2024 while Tom was working at Kernohan Engineering, the project also included cutting corten fence panels and supporting a special dawn blessing on site.