CANTERBURY

Canterbury A&P Show stall will highlight Māori rock art

The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga southern office team are looking forward to sharing new panels about Māori rock art at the Canterbury A&P Show in November.

WORDS: Pam Bain IMAGES: Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre

One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s richest heritage treasures are the many kā tuhituhi o neherā/ Māori rock art sites. There are over 760 sites in Te Waipounamu/ South Island alone. For around 800 years, Māori created complex images of people, birds, animals, sea creatures, taniwha, waka and abstract designs on their landscapes. As Europeans arrived in Aotearoa, Māori incorporated new subjects, such as horses, houses and sailing ships into their art. The art ranges from small symbols to murals more than 20 metres long. “We are looking forward to sharing information about Māori rock art with the A&P Show visitors,” says Outreach Advisor Rosemary Baird. “Many rock art sites are on privately-owned farmland so there is a real connection to the rural sector. And with the new history curriculum about to be implemented, this is a great way to share our regional heritage with families and school visitors.” Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga was fortunate to have the guidance and expertise of Dr Gerard O’Regan and Amanda Symons when writing the panels. Gerard is Curator of Māori at Otago Museum. He did his PhD in North Island rock art sites and is currently undertaking a RSNZ Marsden Fast Start project Initiating a Māori archaeology of threatened North Island rock art. Amanda is a curator and trustee for Te Ana Ngai Tahu Rock Art Trust based in Timaru.

“We were so grateful for Gerard’s and Amanda’s expertise,” says Rosemary. “Gerard has an incomparable knowledge

Guided tours of the Ōpihi rock art site are available through Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre. Cave of the Eagle rock art site, Craigmore Farm, South Canterbury. The figure is thought to represent the giant eagle, extinct for more than 500 years, and perhaps the Pouākai of Māori tradition.

of the context of place, and various meanings of Māori rock art. Amanda provided vital information on the risks threatening rock art sites and the innovative ecological restoration project being done at Ōpihi.” The Christchurch office team are looking forward to staffing the stall. “The Canterbury A&P show always creates great opportunities for discussion with people who stop at our stall and read our panels” says Area Manager, Fiona Wykes. “It’s a chance to share more about what Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga does. And we’ll have our usual popular opportunity for people to complete a short quiz in exchange for a free lamington!” n

The New Zealand Agricultural Show will be held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park, 9 – 11 November. www.theshow.co.nz