Opening Ceremony of Eke Tahi – Mangawhai’s Giant Skateboard

The opening ceremony for Eke Tahi will be held on Sunday, the 27th, at 10 a.m. This event is an opportunity to give thanks and acknowledge the hardworking helpers and supporters who have dedicated the last 18 months to bringing this incredible project to life.

The giant skateboard, measuring an impressive 13 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and weighing nearly 2 tons, was originally created by Sport NZ in 2020. It was part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of skateboarding's debut in the Tokyo Olympics, marking the sport’s first appearance in Olympic history.

After touring towns and cities across Aotearoa, the skateboard made a stop at MAZ (Mangawhai Activity Zone), where Sport NZ and the MAZ committee formed a strong connection. When the tour concluded and the skateboard was left in storage, Sport NZ offered it to MAZ for restoration. The committee eagerly accepted, seeing it as a fantastic opportunity to further cement Mangawhai’s place on the skateboarding map.

Restoring the massive structure over the past 18 months has been a labor of love, involving many talented and dedicated individuals. Mangawhai Engineering & Marine, RS Engineering, Richard from Wiley Geotechnical, and Engtech all contributed their expertise. Simon Bennett, from the MAZ committee, took on the role of project manager to oversee the restoration. The skateboard is built with a steel frame, encased in a fiberglass skin that’s about 200-250mm thick.

A key feature of the restoration is the striking artwork on its underside, which reveals its new name, *Eke Tahi*, meaning "ride as one" in Māori. It also pays tribute to the Tokyo Olympics with a depiction of Mt. Fuji.

With its impressive size and unique design, *Eke Tahi* is set to become the largest skateboard in the world, putting Mangawhai on the map not only in New Zealand but globally as an iconic skateboarding town. This giant skateboard is sure to attract attention from enthusiasts and tourists alike, cementing Mangawhai’s reputation as a must-visit destination for skateboarding fans.