Before you enter the story of the All Blacks, you pass through a story of place.

Te Waharoa stands as a gateway connecting rugby with the whakapapa of Tāmaki Makaurau and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Its design blends traditional carving with contemporary form, grounding the experience in the land it stands on.

The puhoro patterns reference the Waitematā Harbour and the kōrero He Aha Te Hau — recalling the arrival of the first sailing ships and acknowledging the continual arrival of people into Auckland. Just as waka once entered these waters, visitors now arrive from across the world, each beginning their own journey here.

Above, the parirau represents Kahu Pōkere, the kaitiaki who guided waka safely into calm waters from Hawaiki. The gateway is not only an entrance, but protection and welcome.

You are also welcomed in the spirit of Whatua Kaimarie, remembered for her generosity and care for all who came under her hospitality. That same manaakitanga lives within this space.

Standing at the entrance is Tuperiri, ancestor of Ngāti Whātua, whose descendant Apihai Te Kawau gifted the land on which much of the city now stands. The experience exists within that history.

Before the rugby.
Before the jersey.
There is place, people, and welcome.