Reimagining history in mixed reality

A Waxeye case study

Te Tiriti ki Tāmaki Makaurau

To help Auckland Libraries engage a new generation with the significance of Waitangi Day, we designed and built an immersive mixed reality experience that brings the past to life, placing users at the intersection of present and past, knowledge and discovery.

The project began as a Minimum Viable Product, developed in just three weeks to align with a Waitangi Day 2024 launch. Built using existing archival material and narratives, the experience places users as towering figures within a digitally augmented map of Tāmaki Makaurau. From this elevated perspective, they are invited to "wind back time", shifting from the present-day landscape to the historic moment of the Treaty signing. Blending storytelling with spatial interaction, the experience encourages users to actively seek knowledge by exploring taonga and uncovering the profound significance of the event. Following its initial release, we collaborated with stakeholders and the public to refine and enhance the experience, improving the visual fidelity and enriching the narrative. The long-term vision is to expand the platform to include significant sites across the motu, creating a growing national resource that brings our shared history vividly to life.

Mixed reality makes history interactive and immersive

Mixed reality brings cultural history to life

By blending physical space with digital content, this immersive MR experience transforms abstract historical events into interactive journeys, making Aotearoa’s past feel immediate, tangible, and deeply engaging.

Spatial storytelling creates a more profound connection

Users navigate a digitally augmented map of Tāmaki Makaurau, shifting between past and present. This location-aware design encourages curiosity and discovery, turning learning into an active, emotionally resonant experience.

Built for fast impact and long-term growth

Launched as a high-impact MVP in just three weeks, the platform is designed to scale. With future expansion planned across the motu, it sets the stage for a national network of MR experiences rooted in local history.

Designed to engage the next generation

Developed in collaboration with Auckland Libraries, this MR experience targets younger audiences with intuitive interaction, striking visuals, and gamified learning—all while respecting cultural depth and historical nuance.

A dynamic, collaborative platform for shared history

Co-designed with community input and continually refined post-launch, the experience reflects a living, evolving approach to cultural storytelling—uniting technology, te ao Māori, and public engagement in powerful new ways.

Next project