Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia.
Vandals have raised the ire of the Kāwhia community.
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou in Kāwhia have been defaced – the noses of approximately seven figures have been removed.
The damage is thought to have been inflicted overnight last Thursday–Friday at Omimiti Reserve along Jervois Road.
Kit Jeffries
As a result, people up in arms said Ōtorohanga District Councillor and Kāwhia-Tihiroa Ward rep, Christopher ‘Kit’ Jeffries told The News.
“Locals are very upset and pretty disgusted – it’s just so disappointing,” he said.
“I really don’t understand what goes through some people’s minds as to why they would deface something like this.”
By master carver Te Kūiti Stewart, each carving represents an aspect of culture, heritage, history or the community in general. The pou were intended to reflect the diversity of the Kāwhia community and promote unity.
The project was blessed in December 2016 when a five-metre-tall pou maumahara (remembrance pillar) was unveiled at Omimiti Reserve.
“The pou are a gift from Kāwhia Community Projects Trust,” Jeffries, then chair of the trust, said at the time. “They recognise 150 years of Kīngitanga and the arrival of the first Europeans in Kāwhia in 1864. They are going to be part of the face of Kāwhia and the harbour for many years to come.”
More than $250,000 was sourced through donations, grants, businesses and members of the community, in addition to time and mahi.
“The pou were blessed by kaumātua and then someone comes along and defaces them – it is really an affront to our people,” Jeffries said. “But the most curious part to me is why they cut off the noses. I just don’t know what the significance is.”
From evoking utu and karma to calling on the Babylonian law code of an eye for an eye (or a nose for a nose), some online comments appear to be baying for blood. One such comment read: “The saying ‘to cut off your nose to spite your face,’ to do something that harms yourself in the process of trying to hurt someone else often out of anger or revenge… [the perpetrator] may have cut off more than he can chew!”
While a little anger may be warranted, it should be directed towards helping police catch perpetrators, Kāwhia’s Constable David Kraay said.
“It’s a common for people on Facebook to talk about ‘street justice’ but they could end up in trouble if they take matters into their own hands.”
People with details should call 105.
“The investigation is in the early stages, but with no report it’s difficult to identify the time frame for CCTV canvassing,” said Kraay. “Anyone with information about this matter should contact us. There is no such thing as too much information – it all can paint the final picture.
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
Carved pou (posts) have been defaced in Kāwhia. Photos Kit Jeffries
