Manawatu Gorge unveils carvings to bless visitors

Visitors to Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge will now be greeted by Te Hononga Maunga, a carved entrance at the Ashhurst Gorge carpark designed to provide blessing and safe passage to all who pass by.

Unveiled in a dawn blessing ceremony this morning, the English translation of the carvings’ name is “Joining of the Mountains”. Rangitāne carver Craig Kawana says the name refers to the unique position of the Gorge between two mountain ranges and was a revered place to Rangitāne.

“Rangitāne people, who reside both east and west of the Gorge, would recite karakia (prayers) when travelling through to invoke safe passage,” says Mr Kawana.

“So these carvings, amongst other things, represent karakia for those who visit. Signage at the site provides an explanation of this history as well as particular aspects of the carvings including guardians, ancestors and unique patterns to Rangitāne.”

The carvings are the latest development of the Te Apiti - Manawatū Gorge Biodiversity Project, which aims to promote and preserve the biodiversity, recreational, scenic and cultural values of Te Apiti - Manawatu Gorge. Key stakeholders of the project include Horizons Regional Council, Rangitāne iwi, Tararua District Council, Palmerston North City Council, Department of Conservation, Destination Manawatu, New Zealand Transport Agency and KiwiRail.

Te Apiti- Manawatu Gorge landowner and biodiversity group member Tom Shannon says carvings have always been part of the Group’s vision for enhancing the cultural value of the site.

“Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge has an amazing pre-European history. The group asked Rangitāne if they’d like to showcase their spiritual presence at the entrance so visitors could understand and get a feeling for this,” says Mr Shannon.

“The carvings have been seven months in the making and we are so fortunate to have had access to the services of a fantastic carver like Craig Kawana. Not only is his work of a standard that international visitors often visit to watch him carve, but his carving shed is located at Ashhurst Domain and very close to the final site of the carvings.”

ENDS

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