A new set of carved pou has been blessed in a morning ceremony hosted by mana whenua (local Māori tribes) of Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington. The pou serves as a visual representation of the local mana whenua, including Te Ātiawa, Taranaki Whānui, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
Minister for Māori-Crown Relations, Kelvin Davis, expressed his joy and satisfaction with the completion of the pou, which was part of a partnership between Parliament and mana whenua announced in 2022.
The pou will help secure a strong Māori presence in the area and is expected to reassure future generations about the enduring presence of Māori culture in the region.
The unveiling of the pou took place with a pōwhiri (Māori welcome) for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, making him the first to be welcomed by the new pou on Parliament grounds.
