Nga Pou o Heretaunga - Hasting Hawke's Bay New Zealand

Nga Pou o Heretaunga - Hasting Hawke's Bay New Zealand

"Nga Pou o Heretaunga" refers to a group of carved pou (wooden posts) that are located in Heretaunga (also known as the Hawke's Bay region) on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. These pou represent the ancestors and history of the local Maori iwi (tribes) and tell the story of the region's cultural and spiritual heritage. The pou are regarded as taonga (treasures) by the Maori people, and they serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving and protecting the cultural heritage of New Zealand's indigenous people.

Eighteen pou, each representing an ancestor from marae around the Heretaunga district stand proudly in the centre of Hastings, presenting a tangible link to the region's cultural heritage.

For the first time in the history of the Hastings District, the presence of mana whenua can be seen in the form of carvings that represent tupuna, located in Civic Square in the centre of Hastings. Traditionally carved wooden posts, pou are artistically and elaborately carved to mark places of significance and acknowledge the association between the people (Tangata) and the land (Whenua). Nga Pou o Heretaunga have been carved from ancient totara trees by a team of 20 carvers and support crews over a span of 10 months. Each pou includes information on the whakapapa or genealogy of each marae, a full narrative about the ancestor, their past, present and futures connection with Heretaunga.