A pouwhenua is a carved wooden post that marks a boundary or a place of significance. It connects tākata with whenua, and acknowledges the relationships between mana whenua, tūpuna and te taiao.

The two figures in this pouwhenua carved by Riki Manuel represent the origins of Kāi Tahu and the iwi’s ancestral ties with Ngāti Porou from the East Cape in Te Ika-a-Māui North Island. Tahupōtiki, the tupuna of Kāi Tahu after whom the iwi is named, is shown here underneath Hamoterangi, his wife. Her carved pendant represents her first marriage to the brother of Tahupōtiki, Porourangi, the ancestor Ngāti Porou took its name from. Poumanawhenua highlights the connection between the two iwi.

Manuel is an Ōtautahi Christchurch-based carver and tohuka tā moko. He connects with Kāi Tahu through his Ngāti Porou whakapapa, and has carved several major public artworks at important sites throughout the city, including the six-metre high pouwhenua, commissioned by Kāi Tahu, located not far from here in Victoria Square.

tākata ~ people

whenua ~ land

mana whenua ~ Māori with authority over particular land or territory

tupuna / tūpuna ~ ancestor / ancestors

te taiao ~ the natural world

Kāi Tahu ~ tribal group of much of Te Waipounamu South Island

iwi ~ tribe

Ngāti Porou ~ tribal group of East Coast area north of Tairāwhiti Gisborne to Tihirau

tohuka tā moko ~ moko tattoo expert

whakapapa ~ genealogy, lineage, ancestry

This illuminated manuscript page from the early fifteenth century is likely from a Book of Hours, commonly used by Christians during the Middle Ages to establish regular patterns of prayer. The words here in Latin are from two Bible psalms that were to be recited or sung. Inscribed in ink on animal skin parchment, they are embellished with precious gold leaf and watercolour.