Artists proud of new Rotorua Hospital carvings

They stand out like beacons, reminding all those who enter on whose land the people of Rotorua are walking.

Unveiled on Friday, the eight carved pou are the centrepiece of Rotorua Hospital's new out-patients building and were carved near the bottom of Pukeroa Hill in Te Arawa's paramount marae Te Papaiouru at Ohinemutu.

The carvings were created under the expert eye of master carver Tony Kapua whose business, Ohinemutu Maori Handcrafts, is based at the marae.

The beautifully carved and presented pou feature six Ngati Whakaue koro matua - Taeotu, Tunohopu, Te Roro o Te Rangi, Hurungaiterangi, Pukaki and Rangiiwaho, and two ancient Maori gods - Tane Waiora and Maui tikitiki-a-Taranga.

Early morning ceremonies were held in early June and July to bless the new three-storey building at Rotorua Hospital, known as Whakaue Rauoranga.

Mr Kapua said he and fellow carvers Glen Curtis and Hohepa Peni were proud the pou had a prominent position in the new hospital building, with their work inspired by Ngati Whakaue leaders from the past.

"It's been a very special six months for us. It's good to be able to leave something like this behind that can be appreciated by the people of Rotorua," Mr Kapua said.

Minister of Health Tony Ryall and Te Arawa and Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Pihopa Kingi officially opened the new building last week.

Mr Ryall said the Lakes District Health Board worked hard to ensure the new hospital building featured carvings and artwork that captured the important relationship between the DHB and iwi, in particular Ngati Whakaue, who gifted the land to the crown as a recreation reserve more then 100 years ago.

Te Roopu Hauora o Te Arawa, Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust and Ngati Whakaue received regular updates on the development and with their support and leadership an arts committee was established to lead the development.

The committee chose Mr Kapua to undertake the work.

Other significant features of the new building are at the main entrance where a drawing depicts a Maori man and woman in traditional dress standing either side of a child.

The doors at the front entrance feature a wheku, or mask. When the doors open the wheku separates into two profiles depicting Ranginui, the Sky Father and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother. The new entrance will not be ready until March, so until that time the hospital entrance will continue to be through the current entrance in Bridgman South, overlooking Kuirau Park.