Taonga for the Pope

Tu Tangata, Issue 33, 1 December 1986, Page 48

Taonga for the Pope

One of the taonga given to Pope John Paul at the Maori welcome was a pounamu cross. Poutu Te Rangi Stirling, of Christchurch, who presented the piece, said it had been donated by the Arahura people of the West Coast South Island on behalf of the Ngai Tahu people. The simple, unadorned cross was shaped from a flawless piece of Hine Kawakawa pounamu. The cross was presented inside a feathered kete the first kete to be made by Mr Stirling’s wife Wharetutu. “We decided it was an appropriate time to give that very first kete away (as tradition dictates),” said Mr Stirling. “When the opportunity came to present the cross we thought it would be a good idea to have it in the kete and give both away at the same time.” Rotorua carver Tony Kapua worked for three years on the waka huia which was also presented to the Pope. “I did it as the feeling took me,” Mr Kapua said.

“With things like that you have to have a lot of feeling for it you can’t just pick it up at any old time and carve away at it.” The waka huia, about half a metre long, was carved in the traditional style for such a taonga. However, he said some of the symbolism had to be altered because of its tapu nature. “I decided to change one aspect of it because it‘s tapu. “Despite that though I found it satisfying. I couldn’t make it physically to the opening, but the waka huia, which was part of me, went. That was enough for me.”