Another taonga viewed by the board in Mohua recently was the Anaweka waka. Discovered by local resident Tony Nicholls in 2011, the 6.2m section is believed to be part of a sophisticated and much larger sailing vessel. Made of NZ matai, there is a raised turtle motif, and the piece has been dated as approximately 700 years old.Archaeologist Dilys Johns is overseeing the preservation of the waka, which is currently stored in a purpose built bath filled with a glycol solution to assist with conservation of the cell structure of the wood. It is possible that over time the waka structure will be stabilised enough to remove it from the bath. The Board appreciates the ongoing support of Manawhenua ki Mohua and Fonterra with the preservation of this taonga.
Nayland College Year 9 Student Orion Masters has won this year’s Te Āo Māori award at the Scitec expo. His project, Ngā te wā o Paoro i Mua, examined if 3D printing could make a bugle flute that would produce a comparable sound to a traditionally made pūtōrino.
Our Pou Manaaki Whakatū Kiriwai Spooner (right) enjoyed the hospitality at Tokomaru House last week. Jodi has been sharing office systems and processes and passing on a better understanding of the day to day operations and mahi done in Wairau.
As the kapa haka community in Whakatū Nelson prepares to welcome thousands of students to the country’s biggest primary school kapa haka competition, hundreds gathered in the central city last week to support the launch of a special exhibition dedicated to the performing art.