Carving a place in history |
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 WAHAROA (gateway) to the traditional Maori garden, which has some close ties to Te Awamutu. TC021208GJ01 BY GRANT JOHNSTON The traditional Maori garden at Hamilton Gardens which was officially opened today features an extensive range of carvings by Kihikihi-based artisans Sam Roa and Shane Tamaki. The pair have toiled over the past year to carve the waharoa (gateway) and 40 pou (carved posts) that provide the ‘backbone’ of the palisade fence to the large Maori garden. The work was commissioned by Te Parapara Garden Trust, Nga Mana Toopu o Kirikiriroa and Hamilton City Council and carried out mainly at the Aotearoa Institute workshop in Kihikihi. The concept, design of the carvings and colour scheme for the waharoa were the work of Wiremu Puke of Ngati Wairere. Mr Puke told the Courier he is delighted with the quality of workmanship of the Kihikihi carvers, which has seen the vision he had for the garden come to life. ‘‘There are many nationalities represented at Hamilton Gardens, so it is fitting to represent over 1000 years of Maori garden produce in Aotearoa.’’ Mr Puke says the waharoa, pou and palisade fence will illustrate much Tainui history and depict traditions (tikanga) from the area, as will the garden itself. The ochre used (kokowai) replicates the pre-European colours seen on such structures. The garden will contain kumara and root crops grown in pre-European times, along with piko piko, gourds, kiekie, karaka and hinau (berry producing trees), aruhe (fern root), tawa and taromaori. ‘‘It will contain some foods last cultivated and eaten in my grandparents time.’’  CARVERS Sam Roa (left) and Shane Tamaki alongside some of their pou (carved poles) in the palisade at Te Parapara traditional Maori garden — their fifth major Hamilton project. TC021208GJ02 Mr Puke says there are recorded European sightings of Maori food cultivation at Kirikiriroa Pa (Hamilton) and at a large number of sites along the banks of the Waikato River in the 1840s. ‘‘Waikato was at one time the food bowl for Auckland.’’ Te Parapara Pa stood on the site now partially occupied by the traditional Maori garden (at one stage in the interim sadly used as a rubbish tip). The site was at one time home to Haanui, a famous Ngati Wairere chief, and was particularly renowned as a site of sacred rituals associated with the harvesting of food crops. The overall construction of the
waharoa, and the designs on the
cross beam and support posts are
based on ancient Waikato carvings
found on the carved side
entrance of a famous chief’s house
that was called Te Urutomokia.
The features of this waharoa
were recorded from the house
when it stood in the ruins of
Raroera, an abandoned Pa near Te
Awamutu in 1844. Te Urutomokia
was built for Potatau Te
Wherowhero, who later became
the first Maori King in 1858.
A carved figure from this house
is on display in the Te Awamutu
Museum. Te Urutomokia was often used
for sacred religious rituals, and its
name is preserved in ancient
chants which are still sung on The project, with a total cost of around $750,000 (plus lot of ‘goodwill’), is the only one of its type. Much of that funding has come from Lotteries and philanthropic trusts. Trustees include Mavora Hamilton (chairperson), John Gallagher, former Hamilton Mayor Margaret Evans, Anaru Thompson (tumuaki of Ngati Haua), Hekeirangi Broadhurst (Ngati Wairere) and Dave Samuels (Ngati Mahana). Mr Puke will be an extremely proud man today, although sad at the same time that his recently deceased father, the hugely influential Hare Puke (who was patron of the trust), did not live to see this wonderful project reach fruition in the next year or two. |