Nine pou will find a home along the Mangapiko Stream from Maungatautari to Pirongia as part of the Taie te Taiao project led by New Zealand Landcare Trust.
The Strategic Planning and Policy Committee yesterday approved one of the pou being installed on Mutu Street in Te Awamutu, through Council’s Art Policy. The remaining eight pou will be located on private property.
The Taie te Taiao is a five-year project that aims to link Maungatautari to Pirongia via an ecological corridor between the waterways.
Te Kanohi representative Bill Harris said the pou will be placed near the middle of Te Awamutu for everyone to admire and enjoy.
The steel pou on Mutu Street, across the road from Te Awamutu War Memorial Park, will identify Kaipaka Pā and represent the peace wāhine have brought to Waipā and the importance of trade at the Mangapiko and Mangaohoi stream.
“It is a magnificent piece of artwork done by a very skilled Māori carver, in a form that will last us a very long time.”
A mana whenua group made up of Waipā Hapu including Ngāti Apakura is supportive of the pou.
“In terms of a piece of artwork, it supports the cultural mitigation criteria that we needed to connect us to Koroki Kahukura in terms of the new Te Awamutu town water supply.”
The nine pou acknowledge cultural sites of significance, provide a sense of place and link to local history of pre-European settlement trade of flax, flour, fruit and tuna (eels). In addition, signage will be in place to tell the story and share the narratives.
The pou will be funded externally by Te Runanga o Ngāti Apakura and the Taiea te Taiao project.
The date for installation will be confirmed once the full cost has been fund raised for.
