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.

The weaving adorning the pou has been made by senior weaver Ranui Ngarimu.

You can read more about her works here.

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