NBA star Adams on court at Raleigh St
Even the rain seemed to pause in respect for the blessing of the new carvings at the gateway of the renewed Raleigh St Reserve in Palmerston North.
The Awapuni park has been transformed in a $200,000 upgrade, including a new basketball court, which will be opened by Kiwi basketball superstar Steven Adams today.
Rodney Wong, of Awapuni Rotary, said two traditionally carved gate posts, or pou, representing the Awapuni community’s mana and history, were installed at the park entrance ahead of Adams’ visit.
Wong said yesterday’s ceremony, blessing the pou, was a fantastic start to the weekend’s celebrations and boded well for the park’s future, despite the weather. ‘‘It was pouring with rain, but just as the blessing ceremony started it stopped – I’d say that’s a very, very good omen for the park.’’
Rangita¯ne o Manawatu¯ kauma¯tua Wiremu Te Awe Awe and cultural adviser Manu Ka¯ wana led a blessing of the pou yesterday morning, ahead of the park’s official opening.
Traditional carver Glenn Hauraki sculpted the two 5.5-metre tall posts over five weeks, alongside fellow carvers Leighton Girling and Latrell Kamura.
Hauraki said he consulted with community members and local iwi on how to best represent the suburb, which has a strong Pasifika presence.
However, since he’s Nga¯ ti Porou, he chose not to depict local iwi ancestors on the posts as a mark of respect.
On top the left-hand post at the park’s entranceway sits Ma¯ui Potikitiki a Taranga.
‘‘He was the common ancestor throughout our islands, so I used him as a symbol to connect the whole community.’’
Ta¯ ne Mahuta, god of the forests and all life within them, is perched atop the right-hand post, representing tangata whenua.
The posts are covered in designs representing the growth and history of the Awapuni community.