Maori Wood Carving: Te Rangitane O Manawatu Pou

A hand-chiselled pou by master carver Mel Manu. Te Rangitane O Manawatu. The art of whakairo or Maori wood carving is no better represented than in this carving of a pou, intricately hand chiselled in the Manawatu-Whanganui style. Carved during 2002 and 2003 by master carver Mel Manu, of Ngapuhi. The design is chisel carved from t?tara, a native New Zealand timber, which being straight grained, durable, and found virtually throughout the country, has been a favoured medium for Maori carvers. This carving represents the ancestor of Te Rangitane O Manawatu. The Rangitane story begins with the arrival of Kurahaup' waka. One of the principal chiefs aboard this waka was Whatonga. Oral tradition speaks of Whatonga embarking on a journey of discovery after displeasing his wife, Hotuwaipara. She had cut her hand on a nohu (rock cod) that he had caught on a fishing venture. This incident led to their first Son being named in remembrance of the event - Tarataraika meaning 'Fish spine'. Hence the carving style always has full-fingered hands. After much journeying from the East coast throughout the central North Island, Whatonga's journey brought him to the Wairarapa for the first time. From here he journeyed down to Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) up past Kapiti Island and Horowhenua before moving inland up the Manawatu river and Te 'piti (Manawatu Gorge). It was at this point that he first laid eyes upon a vast virgin forest that stretched beyond his view filed with giant native trees. It was of such splendour that he gave it his own name – Te Tapere Nui o Whatonga or 'The great domain of Whatonga'. Whatonga had two Sons to two different wives, and it was the descendants pf these two half-brothers that eventually spread to occupy the lower North Island or Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Maui. The first-born Son was Tara Ika. Tara gave rise to the tribe known as Ngai Tara that lived for many centuries in the Wellington and West coast area. His name is also commemorated in the Tararua mountains that divide the Wellington Region and is taken from saying 'Nga waewae e rua a Tara' or 'the spanned legs of Tara', meaning that his people had a foothold on either side of these ranges. This is represented by the legs of this carving. The second Son was Tautoki, born to Reretua. Tautoki gave birth to a Son called Tane-nui-a-Rangi or Rangita ne. This is represented by the head between the legs of this carving (a style that is quite commonly seen within several style of Maori carving representing ancestral stories and whakapapa) which depicts lineage. Height 4.33 in., width 16.54 in., depth 3.74 in.