The Pou stand two stories high and represent (1) Te Pou o Wi Tako (the pillars for the people of the land) and (2) Te Pou o Tauiwi (the pillar of newcomers). The logs came from Urewera country and were carved by prisoners from Rimutaka prison and students from Petone Technical Institute working under the supervision of Jock McEwen. Jock was also assisted by Wi Taepa who was a prison warden at the time and Ralph Love.

According to the Wellington City Council, “The trees were felled in the Minginui State Forest and were dried for a year before carving commenced. [...] Each pole is in six sections representing the generations since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The figures at the top of each pillar represent a Maori and a European standing back to back with their arms entwined.”

Source: Wellington City Council, Public art heritage trails in the city ~ Waterfront - From Post Office Square to Te Papa.

Plaques installed with the works read:

Plaque 1:

TE POU O WI TAKO : THE PILLAR OF WI TAKO

THE PILLAR REPRESENTS THE TANGATA WHENUA: THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND TE ATI AWA.

WI TAKO WAS A CHIEF IN THE AREA WHICH IS NOW WELLINGTON CITY.

THE CARVING IS IN THE STYLE OF NORTH TARANAKI, THE AREA FROM WHICH TE ATI AWA MIGRATED IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

THE PILLAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE EQUAL SECTIONS. EACH OF THE LOWER TWO SECTIONS HAS THREE PRINCIPAL FIGURES: THESE SIX FIGURES, IN ORDER FROM THE BASE OF THE PILLAR, REPRESENT THE SIX GENERATIONS OF MAORI WHICH HAVE GROWN UP SINCE THE FOUNDING OF MODERN WELLINGTON IN 1840.

AT THE TOP OF THE PILLAR IS A PAIR OF ENTWINED HUMAN FIGURES – THE SEVENTH GENERATION. IN THEM RESIDE THE HOPES OF THE CITY – THAT STRENGTH WILL COME FROM TWO PEOPLES EACH CROSSING INTO THE OTHER’S GROUND JOINING AND ACTING TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND MUTUAL SUPPORT.

Plaque 2:

TE POU O TAUIWI

THE PILLAR OF THE NEWCOMERS

THE PILLAR REPRESENTS THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY SETTLERS AND LATER MIGRANTS FROM MAY DIFFERENT PLACES. THE PILLAR IS PLACED SYMBOLICALLY ON THE RIGHT OF THE ENTRANCE, THE VISITORS’ SIDE.

THE CARVING IS IN THE STYLE OF NORTH TARANAKI, THE AREA FROM WHICH TE ATI AWA MIGRATED IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

THE PILLAR IS DIVIDED INTO THREE EQUAL SECTIONS. EACH OF THE LOWER TWO SECTIONS HAS THREE PRINCIPAL FIGURES; THESE SIX FIGURES, IN ORDER FROM THE BASE OF THE PILLAR, REPRESENT THE SIX GENERATIONS OF PAKEHA WHICH HAVE GROWN UP SINCE THE FOUNDING OF MODERN WELLINGTON IN 1840.

AT THE TOP OF THE PILLAR IS A PAIR OF ENTWINED HUMAN FIGURES – THE SEVENTH GENERATION. IN THEM RESIDE THE HOPES OF THE CITY – THAT STRENGTH WILL COME FROM TWO PEOPLES EACH CROSSING INTO THE OTHER’S GROUND JOINING AND ACTING TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND MUTUAL SUPPORT.

See also:

• Te Pou O Witako (Wellington City Council, City Art Collection website)

• Te Pou Tauiwi (Wellington City Council, City Art Collection website)