Manawatū statue Whatonga’s phallus cut off, iwi Rangitāne ‘disappointed’

A vandal has cut a phallus off a six-metre steel statue in Manawatū, upsetting the local iwi whose ancestor is depicted in the sculpture.

The statue, named Whatonga and standing at the top of the Manawatū Gorge Tawa Loop Track for the past decade, was vandalised just before New Year’s, a local governance group said.

Te Āpiti and local iwi Rangitāne of Manawatū were left “extremely disappointed with the disrespectful actions of individuals who have vandalised one of the most iconic landmarks in the Manawatū”.

The iwi said the vandal would have had to carry steel-cutting equipment to the top of the track to remove the statue’s penis.

Whatonga before the penis was cut off. Photo / ManawatuNZ

Iwi representative Danielle Harris said the statue depicted a “significant” ancestor for Rangitāne.

The statue acknowledged the iwi’s whakapapa (lineage) and history as well as educating visitors about who Rangitāne were as an iwi, Harris said.

“Whatonga is one of our primary ancestors and the patterns on his statue tell his great story as a chief and explorer.

“To say we are disgusted to have a part of that story so disrespectfully removed is an understatement,” she said.

“It clearly shows the ignorance and lack of understanding by some individuals of art and its place in our world. We encourage those responsible to front up to the act.”

Whatonga after its penis was cut off. Photo / Te Āpiti

Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua representative Mavis Mullins said she believed the vandalism to art and history was unacceptable.

“Globally art is explicit, from Michelangelo’s statue of David to Titian’s painting of Venus, with certain features being a common denominator,” she said.

“Anyone who feels strongly about the art display in Te Āpiti is invited to have a progressive and educated discussion with the governance group and welcome to get in touch via info@teapiti.co.nz.”

In 2019, Woodville man Milton Wainwright was ordered to pay $2000 to Rangitāne o Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for emotional harm for cutting a penis off another nearby carving.

Tararua man Milton Wainwright (inset) was charged with wilful damage after the penis was cut off a Rangitane carving in the Manawatu Gorge.

Wainwright, at the time 78, had denied a charge of intentional damage for chainsawing the phallus off the pou which was at the Woodville end of the Te Apiti walkway, but he was found guilty by Judge Lance Rowe at a defended hearing.

Legal defence counsel Mike Ryan said Wainwright had considered the carving to be indecent.

He had contacted the Department for Conservation, Horizons Regional Council, Tararua District Council and police to complain but no action was taken so Wainwright took matters into his own hands.

Ryan told the court Wainwright regretted his actions and that he had caused harm.

“Mr Wainwright says he will never take such action again.”

Police advise the investigation is still ongoing and want to hear from anyone with information about the vandalism of Whatonga.

Anyone who has information that could assist is urged to contact Police on 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking ‘Update Report’. Please quote the file number 231231/0317.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.