This waharoa depicts the story of Poutini. As described in an information sheet provided by the artists, Poutini is the name of the taniwha swimming up and down the West Coast of the South Island protecting both the people and the spiritual essence or mauri of ponamu, greenstone. Poutini guards the mauri within the treasured stone. The mana or spiritual force of pounamu comes from Kahue (or Ngahue) an atua. Poutini as protector of the stone is the servant of Kahue.

Poutini once abducted a woman, Waitaiki, from Tūhua (Mayor Island) in the Bay of Plenty and fled south, hotly pursued by her husband Tamaāhua who was guided by a tekateka (small dart-like spear). Poutini hid with his captive in the bed of the Arahura River but Waitaiki's husband pursued them. Poutini transformed Waitaiki into his own spiritual essence– pounamu–and fled down river to the sea. Waitiaki became the 'mother lode' of all pounamu. The husband went home grieving.

The Poutini Ngai Tahu is the calling given to Kati Waewae, the section of Ngai Tahu connected to the West Coast.

Depicted in the waharoa are (top to bottom):

Left: Tuhua; Kahue (Ngahue) Atua; Te Kaitiaki o Kahue Poutini

Centre: Tairea waka

Right: Tamaāhua with tekateka; Waitaiki with Inaka Peeble (uri); He Taniwha a Poutini

The building was earthquake strengthened in 2018, and an additional gallery was added that required the widening of the doorway that the waharoa was over. As a result, the work was cut and an extension was made to fit it to the new layout.