Pouwhenua Protect Children’s Centre

Pouwhenua Protect Children’s Centre

Youngsters at Otatara Children’s Centre are learning more about Maoritanga with their own guardians or kaitiaki protecting the on-campus site.

EIT kaumatua Matiu Eru blessed the centre’s kaitiakI, in this case traditional carved poles or pouwhenua, which were installed at child-height last week.

It was the children who initiated the move to source pouwhenua after seeing wooden carvings towering over Otatara Pa. On a visit to the former hillside settlement, they queried their purpose and were told by their teachers that the figures represented guardianship of the people and the environment.

Supervisor Kay Harland says they then asked if they could have kaitiaki to protect the centre too.

Their request was taken up with Te Manga Maori, and EIT’s School of Maori Studies directed the centre staff to Alan Wakefield of Porongahau to carve the pouwhenua.

One of the carvings represents Rongomaraeroa, the god of peace and harmony, and another Te Wero or the challenge. A third, yet to be installed, symbolises Maui who, in Maori mythology, captured the sun.

The centre celebrated the traditional Maori blessing as well as Matariki with a hangi for whanau, which comprises 73 infants, toddlers and young children, their families and staff.

Kay says the EIT-owned centre is not just for the children of EIT students and staff – “children are welcomed from the wider community”.

“With the kaitiaki at the heart of our centre, all the children can grow up feeling comfortable about New Zealand’s unique culture and our Maori tamariki will know that their culture is valued by us all.”

ENDS

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