Frustrations are growing over the deliberate destruction of a Māori carving in the Rāpaki area near Christchurch.
The carving was sited at Otuherekio, also known as Pony Point. Photo: Christchurch City Council
The pou is shown on images circulating on social media to have been diced up into pieces and left unrecognisable at Otuherekio, also known as Pony Point.
The photos of the desecrated whakairo, named Kōauau o Tāne Whakapiripiri, have since been met with outrage.
Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke chair Manaia Rehu said the hapū was mourning the loss of Kōauau o Tāne Whakapiripiri.
"This pou [carving] was created with aroha for everyone to appreciate. The site marked a traditional gathering place of manuhiri [visitors] before being welcomed to Rāpaki Mārae during a pōwhiri.
"Although saddened by this act of vandalism, we are encouraged by the tīpuna [ancestors] of Parihaka to follow their approach to dealing with this. We hope that we can continue to create and spread aroha," he said.
Banks Peninsula ward councillor Andrew Turner, who is also Christchurch's deputy mayor, said he was appalled by the damage.
"I'm shocked, stunned, disgusted and appalled by what's happened, this is absolutely terrible on any level.
"But the fact that this could happen in one of our communities where there's been so much community pride and community ownership and working in partnership with the carving centre and with the rūnanga and hapū at Rāpaki.
"The fact that this can happen right on our doorstep, within our own community is something I and many other people in the community have found absolutely shocking.
"I don't know who did this and I can't even begin to imagine why anyone would have wanted to do this."
Turner said the pou was part of a collection of carvings gifted to the Christchurch City Council by the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust and Te Hapu o Ngāti Wheke.
The whakairo were blessed in 2012 and had been maintained by the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust with the intentions of installing more pou around Lyttelton harbour.
Head of Parks Andrew Rutledge said in a statement that they were made aware of the attack on the pou this morning and they were upset by such a senseless act of vandalism.
"The pou was carved by students from the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust in Lyttelton and was installed at Ōtūherekio [Pony Point Reserve near Cass Bay] in 2012.
"The pou was gifted by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke and we have been in contact with them this morning. They are arranging to collect the pieces of the pou and to remove the tapu from the site.
"It is very sad when the actions of an individual or a small group of people destroy an important cultural marker that many people have a connection to," Rutledge said.
Police responded to RNZ's request for comment, saying they have received a report of wilful damage to the carving.
"Police would be interested in hearing from anyone with any information, which could assist inquiries."
Information can be provided via 105, quoting file number 211107/6722. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Turner said there are conversations to be had about what happens next.
"It is a significant harm to the community, it's a significant cultural harm and it's just an act of vandalism.
"I would like to think that whoever the perpetrator or perpetrators are, can be identified, caught and obviously face justice as they should," he said.
The remains of Kōauau o Tāne Whakapiripiri will be returned to Rāpaki Marae.
Council is working with the carving centre and hapū to offer support.
RNZ has approached the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust for comment.
