Pou artist is in firing line

Part of a new pou at Gate Pa Reserve was charred by the artist despite not having permission. Photo / John Borren

A council officer tasked with overseeing the new Gate Pa carvings hopes an artist who burnt his work to give it a charred effect will be prosecuted.

Firefighters were called to Gate Pa Reserve at 6pm on Wednesday night to find one of the artists who had carved the pou out of the trunk of a Totara tree had lit a fire to blacken his section of the carving without first gaining permission.

Passers-by who noticed a fire being lit at the base of one of the new carvings at Gate Pa called emergency services fearing it was being vandalised.

People yesterday gathered around the carving to inspect the blackened section a carving of Te Wano, who was one of the first men killed in the battle.

Tauranga City Council project manager of city projects Allan Sizemore said he was "pretty disappointed".

"We're pretty annoyed at his actions. We are keen for him to be prosecuted," he said.

Ngaitamarawaho kaumatua Des Tata said the artist "was just painting it".

"That's his part of the pou," he said. "He just lit a fire and smoked it and what have you. It looks quite nice now."

The problem was that the artist did not get permission from the organisers to go ahead with it, Mr Tata said.

Police confirmed they were investigating the incident.

"When you see a fire burning you think some one's trying to burn it down," Mr Tata said.