Waiwaia

Waipā Public Art

Indoor

Waiwaia

Dr Pakariki Harrison

Artwork details

Date	circa 1980
Mediums	Whakairo carving
Physical description	Vertical finely carved wooden sculpture in the shape of a taniwha with paua shell inlaid and green painted vine suspended on the wall by its mounts.

Description

This whakairo carving depicts the taniwha Waiwaia who is known as the guardian of the waterways within the Waipā catchment as its home. “Waiwaia paenga tau – Waiwaia of many resting places”

It was commissioned by Dr Rongo Wetere and gifted by Te Wananga o Aotearoa to the people of the Waipā District.

This art work sits between two tukutuku hand woven panels, each supporting the others kaupapa vision.

Dr Pakariki Harrison (1928-2008) was regarded as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest carvers. In the 1980’s Paki lectured at the University of Auckland and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature in 1991. In 1997, he received a Te Waka Toi Award in recognition for his lifetime achievements.

Dr Harrison has shown his work in exhibitions nationally and overseas i Italy Japan, France, USA and Australia.

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Location

Waipā District Council Chambers, Bank Street, Te Awamutu

Pou Whakairo Karapiro

Waipā Public Art

Outdoor

Pou Whakairo

Artist Unknown

Artwork details

Date	circa 2010
Mediums	Pou whakairo wooden hand carved
Physical description	Five vertical wooden carved pou posts in a three two formation installed by the main domain sign.

Description

Six vertical posts that were possibly created and installed for the opening of the Don Rowlands Centre in 2010.

Each pou has distinctive patterns and indentations.

There is no information about the artists or title of the work.

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Location

Installed on both sides of the main entrance to the Don Rowlands Centre, 601 Maungatautari Road, Karapiro.

Patupaiarehe Pou

Waipā Public Art

Outdoor

Patupaiarehe Pou

James Webster

Artwork details

Date	circa 2010
Medium	Wood, Metal and Paua Shell
Physical description	Three pou whakairo with distinctive carved patterns standing erect in a reserve.

Description

Three pou whakairo individually carved with distinct patterns inlaid with paua.

These are representative of patupaiarehe fairies that live on Pirongia Maunga.

It is located near the edge of Te Ngahere Reserve.

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Location

Te Ngahere Reserve on the corner of Belcher and McClure Streets, Pirongia.

Te Paenga o Uenuku

PUBLIC ART

Outdoor

Te Paenga o Uenuku

Te Wananga o Aotearoa

Artwork details

Date	2016
Medium	Wood
Physical description	Four pou whakairo with painted kōwhaiwhai patterns in red, black and white, erected side by side.

Description

Te Paenga o Uenuku – The Resting Place of Uenuku. They are located as close as possible to where the pou whakairo Uenuku was found at Lake Ngā Roto in 1906.

The spaces between the four pou represent seven Atua: Tāne-mahuta, Tangaroa, Tāwhiri-mātea, Tūmatauenga, Haumia-tiketike and Ruamoko. The lizards painted at the op of each pou embody the kaitiaki that protect the lake.

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Location

Lake Ngā Roto by the entrance to the boardwalk, Te Awamutu.