Taonga Whakairo - Carved Treasure
The story behind our carving
LINZ's storehouse of land information and the historic past of our predecessors is depicted in a taonga whakairo (carved treasure) that graces our reception area in our National Office in Wellington.
This taonga was created by the tohunga whakairo (master carver) Rangi Hetet who is of Ngati Tuwharetoa and Ngati Maniapoto descent. Two of Rangi's daughters weaved the tukutuku (lattice work) that is part of this artwork.
The artists have used New Zealand native woods: kauri for the poupou (pillars) representing strength, integrity and endurance; kiekie (a fibre); kakaho; and kahikatea (lighter woods for contrast) for the tukutuku. The tukutuku represents the "story aspects" of this artwork.
What is depicted in this carving?
This taonga is in three sections. These are a centre panel of tukutuku, flanked by two poupou. The work is rich in symbolism as it depicts the main gods of the Māori pantheon that are associated with our work. The work is also a symbol of LINZ's historic past and of its core business today, of being the kaitiaki (guardian) and interpreter of land information, for New Zealand.
What do the various parts of this taonga represent?
The left hand poupou (looking from the front) portrays from the top, Papatuanuku, the earth mother and nurturer of life. Beneath is her child, Tanemahuta, god of the forests and of wildlife. Tane holds nga toki (the adze), symbol of Māori godly authority. Beneath Tane is his brother, god of uncultivated foods and natural resources. As appropriate, Haumiatiketike rests close to the ground.
The right hand poupou (looking from the front) portrays from the top, Ranginui the sky father, husband of Papatuanuku and father of the gods. Beneath him is their son Tangaroa, god of the oceans and kaitiaki of sea life. The symbol of Tangaroa is the eel which clings to his body. Beneath him is his brother Rongo, god of peace and cultured foods. The symbol of Rongo are the intertwined kumara plants held by him.
The tukutuku centre panel is a "stylised picture". Starting from the base are imprints of the pukeko (a swamp bird). These represent waewaepukura (or swamp), prized by Māori of old because swamps were a rich source of food.
The diagonal patterns immediately above, represent aspects of nga whenua (the land). These are the surveying of the land, tilled land (representing development), untilled land (representing preservation), and niho taniwha (the myths and legends associated with the land).
The central diamond represents nga puawaitanga (the concept of growth and flowering). This is embraced by nga maunga (the mountains). The stair like shapes above the mountains are arawhata ki te matauranga (the steps to knowledge).
Above and on each side are clusters representing purapura whetu (seeds and the stars).
This English language explanation is more poetically expressed in Māori by Rangi Hetet:
"Nga korero mo nga whakairo o te pakitara o te wahi wanangatanga a toitu te whenua me te Pou Taunahanaha Ingoa Whenua.
He kauri nga poupou me nga kaho o runga me raro, e awhi nei i nga whakairo a Hinetaiwaiwa.
Taha maui: Mai i runga, ko Papa-Tu-A-Nuku, heke iho ki ana tamariki tuatahi, ko Tanemahuta e pupuru nei i te aruhe.
Taha katau: Mai i runga, ko Ranginui e tu hangai nei i tana tama, i a Tangaroa e pupuru nei i tana tuna. Heke iho ki a Rongo, ko ia nei te kaihautu o te mauri o te kumara.
E awhi nei ratou i nga taonga a Hinetaiwaiwa, ara;
Mai i runga (taharua) - Purapura whetu
Poutama - te ara ki te matauranga
Nga maunga - e awhi nei i te puawaitanga
Niho Taniwha - Nga tapu o te whenua
Waewae pukura - nga tohu o nga repo
Te tohunga whakairo i enei taonga a nga tupuna ko Rangi Hetet no nga kawei rangatira o Tuwharetoa me Ngati Maniapoto. Na ana tamahine e rua i whakairo nga tukutuku."
