Exploring Ngā Tapuwae o te Kāhui Maunga in Wellington
Ngā Tapuwae o te Kāhui Maunga is situated at the base of Pukeahu Hill in Pukeahu National Memorial Park, Wellington. This memorial is a profound tribute to the involvement of Māori in all of Aotearoa New Zealand's wars. It provides visitors with a unique perspective on the historical and cultural ties of Te Āti Awa with Pukeahu.
Symbolism and Design of the Memorial
The memorial is marked by three boulders placed within a garden, representing the mountains Taranaki, Ruapehu, and Tongariro. These boulders are adorned with motifs that depict the Māori of the moa hunter era, who lived in the Taranaki and Wellington regions before the 1600s. The gardens surrounding the boulders pay homage to the extensive Māori gardens that once thrived on and around the hill.
The Statue of Hinerangi
A central feature of the memorial is the statue of Hinerangi, crafted by Darcy Nicholas. This stylised kuia, or mother figure, faces the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, located below the Carillon tower on Pukeahu. Her gaze extends towards Aoraki Mt Cook in the Southern Alps. As a kaikaranga, or caller, Hinerangi symbolically calls the fallen warrior home.
Parihaka Sculpture
At the top of Pukeahu Hill, near the northwest end of the Dominion Museum building, stands the Parihaka Sculpture. This artwork commemorates the tragic events of 1881, when the New Zealand government committed an atrocity against the Taranaki and Te Āti Awa Māori at the end of the New Zealand Wars.
How to Get There
To visit Ngā Tapuwae o te Kāhui Maunga, make your way to Pukeahu National Memorial Park in Wellington. The park is located on Buckle Street and is easily accessible by public transport, car, or on foot from Central Wellington.
Other options around Wellington City include a waterfront walk, visits to Zealandia and Te Papa and a hike up Mt Victoria.
