Poutahu by Sandy Adsett (Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu), 2025
"The new Te Ahu a Turanga Highway crossing the Ruahine Ranges is bookmarked on both ends by mahi toi (artwork), by two prominent Māori artists.
It replaces the old State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge which closed in 2017 due to slips.
The 12 metre high sculpture on the Woodville roundabout is named Poutahu, and was designed and created by prominent artist Sandy Adsett (Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu).
Adsett said the Poutahu sculpture near Woodville was based on the structure of old wharenui that had a vertical pole at the centre of the whare to provide strength to the tahuhu (ridge beam)."
"The red, blue and yellow colours also represented a balance between Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne.
Adsett said the patterns represented a thread or a bloodline."
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Source & image credits: RNZ News | Te Ahu a Turanga: The story behind the art on New Zealand's newest highway and The Post | The art that weaves links along the Manawatū-Tararua highway
"The new Te Ahu a Turanga Highway crossing the Ruahine Ranges is bookmarked on both ends by mahi toi (artwork), by two prominent Māori artists.
It replaces the old State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge which closed in 2017 due to slips.
The 12 metre high sculpture on the Woodville roundabout is named Poutahu, and was designed and created by prominent artist Sandy Adsett (Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu).
Adsett said the Poutahu sculpture near Woodville was based on the structure of old wharenui that had a vertical pole at the centre of the whare to provide strength to the tahuhu (ridge beam)."
"The red, blue and yellow colours also represented a balance between Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne.
Adsett said the patterns represented a thread or a bloodline."
