Totem pole comes down after 25 years (+video)

Rotorua District Council community arts adviser Marc Spijkerbosch explains the history of the totem pole before its decommissioning yesterday. Photo / Stephen Parker

It stood watch next to the Rotorua Museum for almost 25 years, but has come to the end of its natural life.

Yesterday, the Canadian totem pole given to Rotorua 24 years ago by the Kwagiulth Indians of Vancouver was "decommissioned" during a ceremony at the site.

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Rotorua District Council community arts adviser Marc Spijkerbosch said the western red cedar the totem pole was made out of had reached the end of its life and further work to restore the totem pole would be costly.

"It was a very difficult decision for us to make and it will be missed.

"But, its time has come."

He said it was presented to Rotorua to celebrate New Zealand's sesquicentennial (150 years) in 1990, but has suffered from ongoing decay for some time.

It was removed from the gardens with the blessing of its creator, Chief Tony Hunt, a master carver and tribal elder of the Kwagiulth Indians.

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Mr Spijkerbosch said there were plans to plant a Canadian redwood in its place.

He said the totem pole would be respectfully removed, the only stipulation from Chief Hunt was that it was not "chopped up into pieces for souvenirs".

Before its removal the totem pole was blessed, as dictated by Kwagiulth custom, by Reverend Tom Poata in front of about 30 people including district councillors and Te Arawa kaumatua.