Rāpaki – Acrylic on Canvas

Rāpaki captures the breathtaking beauty of Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour at dawn, painted during Carrie’s time staying at Rāpaki Marae while studying through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Inspired by kōrero shared the night before, this artwork reflects the rare and memorable sunrise where the sky shifts through deep blues, violets, and soft greens — hues echoed within the tukutuku panels of the wharenui.

Created on-site at the Marae, the painting holds the wairua of that morning: the quiet stillness of the wharenui, early-rising Mau Rākau practitioners greeting the first light, and the peacefulness of the harbour as the world slowly wakes. The long pier guides the viewer into the scene, drawing them toward the lush hills, family homes, and the gentle rhythm of life in this cherished place.

Though the artwork photographs as predominantly green, it transforms beautifully with changing light throughout the day — much like the sunrise that inspired it. This piece is both a memory and an honouring of place, people, and story.

Perfect for collectors of Aotearoa landscapes, lovers of Canterbury art, and anyone drawn to the serenity and depth of New Zealand’s coastal dawns.