Waitohi Pouwhēnua

Artist: Pita Rua

Location: Picton Library, High Street, Picton

Year: 2020

Type: Wooden carving

Details: Standing at the site of the former Te Ātiawa pā beside the Picton Waitohi Library, this carved pouwhēnua tells the story of Waitohi and its people. Created by master carver Pita Rua, the pou depicts Awanuiarāngi, eponymous ancestor of Te Ātiawa, and Ropoama Te One, the rangatira of Waitohi at the time the land was sold in 1850.

The carving also acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Marlborough’s whaling history, reflecting the Māori and Pākehā families whose stories remain woven into the region. The pou is a marker of place, whakapapa and history, connecting the past, present and future of Waitohi.