The large pou on Clifford Park in Featherston marks the start of the Tauwharenikau walking/cycling trail from Featherston to Woodside that incorporates the bridge crossing the Tauwharenikau River. The pou celebrates the pūrakau of Nuku Pewapewa, who led the Ngati Kahungungu response to an incursion by Te Atiawa. Nuku Pewapewa used the Wairarapa wind to fly a warrior over the impenetrable ramparts of the Te Atiawa Pa and attached a raupo kite, enabling him to secure a victory that established his role as “Peacemaker”.
The pou has been the product of the Trust working together over three years with Papawai marae in Greytown and Pae to Mokai o Tauira in Featherston. We believe that the unveiling of the extraordinary artistic creativity of Papawai’s Ed Riwai, in celebrating the pūrakau of Nuku Pewapewa, is a small step towards raising the profile the history of tangata whenua in the Wairarapa rohe.
