Hamilton Gardens’ entrance: the values woven into our welcome

Our new gateway isn’t just an entrance – it’s a living expression of history, guardianship, and hospitality. Hamilton Gardens' Director, Lucy Ryan, shares the meaning behind the design.

When you walk into Hamilton Gardens today, you’re stepping into a space that tells more than one story. Yes, it’s the gateway to 18 incredible themed gardens, but it’s also a place that honours the first gardeners of this land – Ngaati Wairere – and the values that continue to guide us.

Long before Hamilton Gardens existed, this land was home to Ngaati Wairere. Around 700 years ago, their paa sites lined the Waikato River, and the fertile soils made this area a horticultural hub. The first gardeners here grew kuumara, taro, and other crops brought on the Tainui waka (canoe) from Polynesia. Growing kuumara in this cooler climate required incredible skill – planting in mounds to capture warmth, following the Maramataka calendar, and using techniques passed down through generations. That ingenuity and connection to the land is something we’ve sought to honour in every design decision.

When we set out to create Hamilton Gardens’ new visitor precinct, it wasn’t just about functionality. It was about meaning. We wanted an entry experience that felt world-class, but also deeply connected to this whenua and its people. That meant working alongside Mana Whenua (people of the land) and cultural design specialists to embed narratives into the design in a way that is authentic, respectful, and tangible.

One of my favourite features is the woven brickwork in the Fern Court. At first glance, it’s a striking pattern in the concrete, but look closer and you’ll see something much deeper. It represents a whaariki – a mat traditionally laid out to welcome guests. The design echoes the sail of the great Tainui waka and symbolises our welcome to all visitors from ngaa hau e whaa, the Four Winds – a concept that represents cultural identities and directional forces coming together. No matter where you’ve come from, you’re welcome here.

Surrounding the courtyard are tall vertical posts inspired by traditional gardening tools called koo. They form a protective palisade, a nod to the fortified paa that once stood along the Waikato River. For me, these posts speak to kaitiakitanga – the guardianship of this place and everyone who visits. They tell a story without words, and they’re bold and beautiful in their simplicity.

At the entry to the Enclosed Gardens, the Tomokanga stands as a carved gateway rich with symbolism. The seven stars of Matariki stretch across the top, reminding us of renewal and the responsibility to care for what we’ve inherited. Look closer and you’ll see spirals climbing skyward, representing the journey from earth to sky, and symbols like Korotangi and Te Paki o Matariki – each with its own story of unity, resilience, and connection.

Our approach wasn’t just about creating beautiful spaces; it was about embedding values into the way we work and the experience Hamilton Gardens has to offer. The pattern in the Visitor Centre also reflects kaitiakitanga and our role as guardians of the Gardens and our guests. In the Pavilion and event spaces, the design shifts to manaakitanga – kindness, respect, and generosity. These principles guide how we welcome people, care for the land, and make decisions every day.

Working alongside Mana Whenua and cultural advisor Eugene Kara has been one of the most rewarding parts of this project. Every element, from the courtyard to the carvings, carries meaning. It’s a living expression of values like manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, and it adds a depth to the visitor experience that you can feel as soon as you arrive.

Hamilton Gardens has always been about stories – stories told through gardens. Now, our entry precinct tells another story: one of welcome, guardianship, and connection. It’s a reminder that design isn’t just about what you see; it’s about what you feel and what you learn along the way.

So next time you visit, take a moment to look down at the patterns beneath your feet, up at the carvings above your head, and around at the posts standing tall. They’re not just beautiful features – they’re chapters in a much bigger narrative, one that began long before us and will continue long after.

Lucy Ryan, Hamilton Gardens’ Director

Our precinct project was completed under the guidance of multi-media professional Maaori artist and specialist project manager, Eugene Kara, working with:

• Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa (THAWK)
• Ngaati Wairere
• contracted architectural and graphic design teams
• our Hamilton Gardens team. 

Hamilton Gardens is New Zealand’s best kept secret. Explore the website to find out more about our:

• location
• range of gardens you can view (including the Te Parapara Garden)
• things to see and do
• how to get tickets to the Enclosed Gardens (free for Hamilton residents).