Reimagining history in mixed reality
A Waxeye case study
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 for a Waitangi Day 2024 launch. Using archival material and narratives, it places users as towering figures within a digitally augmented map of Tāmaki Makaurau. From this elevated view, they ‘wind back time’, shifting from today’s cityscape to the historic Treaty signing. Blending storytelling and spatial interaction, the experience invites users to explore taonga and discover the event’s significance. After the launch, we worked with stakeholders and the public to refine it, improving visuals and enriching the narrative. The long-term vision is to expand the platform to include sites across Aotearoa, creating a growing resource that brings our shared history to life.



