Pou Kapūa as a Creation

Pou Kapūa is a creation. Not all can be revealed at this point in time – it is a revelation – not a body of work that can be expressed through technical drawings – down to the last centimetre. There are many spiritual processes and rituals that are carried out throughout its creation.

We are first and foremost traditional carvers. However, we also incorporate many contemporary techniques. We have included carvers from iwi all around the motu – many however have various carving styles, we have also invited other Pacific and Indigenous carvers to help us create our Pou. It is treated, painted, oiled, and varnished, and decorated with many beautiful taonga, including crystals, paua and pounamu.

Pou Kapūa is multidimensional, multilayered, and multifaceted. If we were to hold a mirror up to ourselves – we would see a reflection and acknowledge truthfully who we are, where we have come from and where we a going to. If we were to add other mirrors behind and around us – our reflection (Te Kanohi ātaahua o Āniwaniwa) becomes multifaceted. “Te kanohi ātaahua o Āniwaniwa.” - We can see for the first time parts of us that we haven’t seen before. Pou Kapūa has seen these parts of us from time past and into the eternities.

Some of the whakairo on the Pou Kapūa

Traditional Canoes have their own stories regarding their migrations from their homelands to the new land – Aotearoa. Māori were known to be Master Mariners throughout the world - known to be very competitive people, racing from island to island, navigating by way of the Sun, Moon and Stars.

We are carving the Māori view of creation, while acknowledging God throughout. Our deepest histories and beliefs are narrated upon this “snapshot”. Our Pou Kapūa depicts and incorporates the many phases of creation, from Te Kore (the beginning of time) through to Maui (the first man). We show the separation of Rangi and Papa and provide and express the interesting and colourful histories, stories, adventures, conflicts and endeavours of their children, Nga Atua.

Tangaroa, the guardian of the oceans; Kupe, Polynesian explorer extraordinaire; Maui, demigod, adventurer; Tawhaki, attainer of the baskets of knowledge; and Matakerepō, holder of the sacred knowledge to the gateways of the heavens are also carved on our Pou.

We have carved the journeys of the adventures of our tupuna, who were true navigators – venturing into the unknown - sailing towards the sun. Forever seeking their destiny written in the stars. The stoic expressions of forebears stood them well in all their endeavors. The Pou depicts the many Waka that came to Aotearoa - and specific knowledges pertaining to the world around them. They brought foods such as kumara, and the known medicines of the time. Time spoke of scared creatures, one such as korotangi, and the languages of the peoples of the Pacific.

Stand proud, stand tall ……… “Pou Kapūa"