Public Art in Central Christchurch

Poupou

Category: Sculpture / Carving Title: Poupou Primary artist(s): Riki Manuel Execution date: 1994 Media: Totara, paint and paua shells Approximate dimensions: h 6m w .5m Location: Victoria Square Setting: On the bank of the Avon across from the Town Hall complex Owner / administrator: Parks Unit, Christchurch City Council

Situated in Victoria Square beside a cabbage tree is a six metre poupou. The carving was created by the master carver Riki Manuel. Riki Manuel trained under John Taiapa for three years at the Maori Arts and Craft Institute in Rotarua. The work for Victoria Square was commissioned by the City Council in conjunction with the Ngai Tahu Maori Trust Board. Although the work took three years to organise the poupou took only twelve months the complete.

The poupou is carved out of a totara log one metre in diameter, and was given by a West Coast farmer. Totara is a timber that is prized for carving. The main theme of the poupou is Raki and Papa, the Maori story of the 'beginnings', the characters of the legend are represented in the carving. The poupou represents all inhabitants of the Christchurch region, their ancestry and their resources. The location of the poupou also relates to the old Pa site Puari, their food resources, and the collection and conservation of these resources.

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