The installation, "Te Timataka" (The Creation), comprises clay tiles that hang on three pou (posts) made of macrocarpa, and can be seen at the start of the lagoon walk near Waitati.
Waitati School pupils Isla Liddy and Lumi Robertson led the proceedings, which began with a karakia by Mauraka Edwards of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, then all joined in waiata.
Principal Tara O'Neill read the Ngāi Tahu Māori creation story telling the tale of Takaroa and Papatūānuku and their children, how Papatūānuku later fell in love with another man called Rakinui, and how Takaroa and Rakinui fought a mighty battle on a beach.
Pupils Isla and Lumi explained how this creation story was used as inspiration for making clay tiles to tell the tale.
Kati Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki kai toko (educator) Rua McCallum helped explain the meaning of the creation story to pupils.
Teacher Chris Slabbert helped pupils take part in the project, using the school’s new ceramics studio, called Mahi ā-ringa, which opened last year in a former school shed.
Artist Dave Milne, of Warrington, guided pupils through the creation of the piece.
"The kids are the future of art in Dunedin."
The function of public art was for the viewer to enjoy and hopefully convey understanding of a new idea, he said.
Mrs O'Neill said the work was the result of being selected for a Creative New Zealand grant through the Creatives in Schools wellbeing programme delivered by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatū Taonga and Creative New Zealand.
Children of all ages worked on the project throughout the year, she said.
"In true transdisciplinary form the project grew from several disciplines — the New Zealand history curriculum, arts curriculum, english, maths and the wellbeing of our community," Mrs O'Neill said
The project embraced the school’s values of tūrangawaewae, connectedness, the place where we stand, she said.
The installation is the first of three, with Palmerston School and Karitāne School working on projects as well.
Information boards and QR codes would link the three projects, Mrs O'Neill said.
