Te Pouwhenua ki te Kura o Ngā Tīmoti

‘TērāaMatarikikarewaitepae’– beholdMatarikion thehorizon,asignofnewbeginnings

History

Thereareseveralversionsastohowthe name of Ngā Tīmoti came about. One popular version follows the story of a man by the name of Tīmoti (Timothy)an avid eeler in the local area who carved, ‘Nā Tīmoti’ (belonging to Tīmoti), into a tree to mark his fishing spot. It appears that over the years, the name has gone through some changes and is now more commonly spelt as one word ‘Ngātīmoti’ which may be interpreted as ‘Ngā Tīmoti (the descendants of Tīmoti).

On Friday 11th December, Ngāti Tama unveiled and blessed Ngā Tīmoti Pouwhenua, a pou at Ngā Tīmoti School in Motueka to mark the connection Ngāti Tama has with the school and the area. The pouwhenua was commissioned by the Trust and carved by Ōtūwhero resident, Tim Wraight as part of connecting with schools that were returned to Ngāti Tama through our 2014 Treaty Settlement.

The top is the head of a Ngāti Tama Tupuna carved in the same way as the head at the top of a tokotoko with the conical peak representing Taranaki mounga. This has the face looking forward to the future and back to remember the past.

The eye of the pou is the Mānuka beetle (Pyronota festiva) which is prevalent in the area and represents the insect world.

The spiral pattern on the kaitaka refers to the birds around Ngā Tīmoti, and their flight paths above and across the valley, especially the kereru which at certain times of the year makes great swooping dives in the air.

Ngāti Tama acknowledges the carver Tim Wraight (resident at Ōtūwhero) for his creative interpretation and in particular for incorporating specific aspects pertaining to Ngāti Tama and their Taranaki origins and the local Ngā Tīmoti area. Tēnā rā koe kei te rangatira e Tim.