Te Waka (Two Poles)
This pole stands 1.8m and represents the waka (canoe) that early Māori used to come to New Zealand. Māori history depicts the Māori people came from the mythical homeland Hawaiki in large waka to New Zealand and settled on the land. The piece was originally in one piece but as it was carved it was discovered to be rotting in the middle. Each half now stands at the boundaries of the Wānanga. Te Waka is coated with black lacquer and tungsten oil polyurethane.
For hundreds of years the waka has been the most effective way of travelling, and is still honoured today via Māori cultural groups coming together to embrace and celebrate the past.
| Location | Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Campus, Ashworth Street, one on each frontage corner |
| Materials | Tōtara, Set in ground with steel supports, |
| Created | 2004 |
| Artist | The two halves of this waka were carved by students under the guidance of artist James Davidson. It was carved at a Symposium held next to the Indoor Pools. |
| Definition of Name | Te - used when referring to particular thing or individual
Waka - Māori watercraft, similar to a canoe, ranging in sizes |
| Definition Interpretation | The carving depicts and highlights the importance of the waka (canoe) in Māori culture both past and present. |
Materials
The material used for this piece is Tōtara. The log used for this Talking Pole was donated by the Te Putahitanga O Nga Ara Trust.
Tōtara wood is red, straight-grained and easy to work; although rather brittle, it is one of the most durable timbers known. In the early days of European settlement Tōtara was used extensively for house piles, house frames and for fence posts. Being resistant to teredo worm, it was also used in the piling of many early wharves.
To the Maori people the Tōtara was a symbol of strength and goodness. From these trees they made their canoes and their carved whare whākairo, pātaka and food boxes. The bark was used for thatching and for making storage vessels.
Artist Notes
The two halves of this waka were carved by students under the guidance of artist James Davidson. It was carved at a Symposium held next to the Indoor Pools.
