Welcome sign coming soon

By Frank Neill

It’s been a long time coming, but the new sign welcoming people to Wainuiomata will be put in place this year.

It will be erected on the grass area of Wainuiomata Road as people come down the hill into the valley.

It is on target to be in place by summer, says Love Wainuiomata Co-ordinator Anaru Ryall.

The sign itself is now nearing completion, and Love Wainuiomata has the final structural plans.

Back in 2015 Harcourts Wainuiomata launched a competition to find a design for the new sign.

Local artist Tamariki Ferguson won the competition.

His design was selected by an online vote, which attracted more than 14,000 voters. Tamariki was one of four finalists chosen by the judging panel of Trevor Mallard, Linda Olsen and Ruth O’Grady.

The inspiration for his winning design, Tamariki says “comes from our community itself.

“A diverse range of cultures that live in a vibrant and growing place that is unique to anywhere else in the Wellington region.

“The two carved posts on the sides [Pou] are like spiritual guardians welcoming people to and protecting our community.

“These will be adorned with carvings/ symbols from each of the five continents (all cultures) represented in Wainuiomata as well.

“The three green curved lines represent the rivers/creeks that run through our valley,

“The hill shaped top represents the hills that surround us and the brushed steel plate represents the contemporary way forward.

“The three shades of green represent the colour with which our community is most identifiable with/for out on the sports/recreational fields.

“Although modern in look, having traditionally carved posts pays homage to our tangata whenua and early settlers to the valley.”

The time taken to bring the project near to completion has been caused by a number of issues.

An early delay arose when Love Wainuiomata had a major struggle to find the large scale

Totara logs needed for the Pou.

It’s very important. We owe those who served a great deal. My great grandfather is buried in France, having died in World War 1. I’ve visited his grave. We cannot imagine what those guys went through and the sacrifices they made. I haven’t missed an Anzac service in years.

We forget that freedom is not free, that the freedom we have is actually a privilege and blessing, paid for by others, not a right. ‘Lest we forget’ - we had better not. We remember, honour and are grateful beyond measure for the price paid for our freedom by those who have, are and will serve in our Armed Forces.

The wood needed to be seasoned and wide enough to be carved and still hold the sign’s weight.

Love Wainuiomata finally sourced logs that could be used for the Pou in November 2018. Following that, carver Tiaki Dahm began working on carving the Pou, and this has now been completed.