Pou whenua

 

Kaiwhākairo Matua Mark Davis stands next to his work Ngā Iwi he ka_kano e ruia mai e Rangiatea

This pou whenua which was unveiled in April 2011 at a dawn blessing is one of two that now stand at the common boundary of Founders Heritage Park and Whakatū Marae. The project represents strong links and relationships / whanaungatanga with iwi of Whakatū Marae, Founders Heritage Park and Nelson City Council.

The Council commissioned Mark Davis for the project. The Pou (pictured) is called Ngā Iwi he kākano e ruia mai e Rangiatea and represents the link between the Tupuna iwi of the past with the current iwi. It’s carved from a trunk of a Nelson City Tōtora that was in guardianship/kaitiakitanga with Whakatū Marae after it fell in the windstorm of 2008.