Tāne te Wānanga Pou
Carver: Thomas Ruahi
This pou represents the journey Tāneuiarangi made to establish the Kete Wānanga here on Earth.
At the very top is a heru (comb) made of whalebone (gifted by Hori Parata Ngātiwai Trust) which represents the relationship that tangata whenua here have with the moana (sea).
The next figure is Tāne embracing Papatūānuku (Mother Earth) within her korowai (cloak).
The koru symbol represents new life and growth of knowledge.
The korowai is covered with unaunahi (fish scales) a significant design concept used by the Ngāpuhi people.
The head below the fish scales represents the ira tangata (the human essence) moving from the world of confusion into the world of light and awareness.
In relation to the library building this could represent the place where the information is stored.
Tauparapara
The Three Baskets of Knowledge
Verse 1
Tenei au, tenei au,
Te hokai nei Ki taku tapuwai
Te hokai nuku, te hokai rangi
Te hokai a to Tupuna a Tane-nui-a-rangi
Verse 2
I pikitia ai te Rangi tu-haa-haa
I te Tihi o Manono I rokohanga atu ra
Ko Io te Matua I Riro iho ai nga kete o te Wananga,
Ko te kete Tua-uri, Ko te kete Tua-tea, Ko te kete Aro-nui
Verse 3
Ka tiritiria, ka Poupoua ki PāPā-tua-nuku
Kia puta te ira Tangata
Ki te whei ao, ki te ao marma.
The translation version of this Tauparapara comes from verse 3
I Tāne have established the knowledge on Earth so that mortal man could escape from the world of darkness into the world of awareness.
Tire .... I Mauri-ora
The first Breath of Word.