Story: Te Whakatōhea

Pouwhenua (1st of 3)

Pouwhenua

Like totem poles, these pouwhenua or pou (carved pillars) stand side by side on the beach at Paerātā, their carvings telling Te Whakatōhea and Pākehā stories. Called ‘Te Ara ki te Rawhiti’ (the pathway to the sunrise), the carvings by Heke Collier were originally unveiled in 1991 near the Waiōtahe River mouth, but were moved in 1996 because of erosion.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Shirley Williams

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How to cite this page:

Ranginui Walker, 'Te Whakatōhea - Ancestors', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/387/pouwhenua (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ranginui Walker, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017