Pou project interweaves art, agency, and cultural sustainability

Curriculum lead John McDougall with some of the Worser Bay School students behind the pou designs.

Looking over the picturesque view of Worser Bay, three new pou acknowledge Worser Bay School’s cultural site of Whetūkairangi Pā, thought to be named after the expanse of stars rising above the cliff face.

The designs on the pou were conceptualised by ākonga in Years 5 and 6, weaving together details of the surrounding landscape with stories of Kupe, and Ngā Atua Māori.

Together with their teachers, students researched the history of the whenua beneath their school, interviewed tangata whenua and unpacked ideas of taking on responsibility as tangata tiaki.

Curriculum lead and project facilitator John McDougall said that he had wanted to convey a strong sense of te ao Māori to ākonga, and also use the project as a way to acknowledge the site’s cultural significance.

He said that the courtyard was used for school meetings, karakia and until now did not have any formal acknowledgement of its place and history in te ao Māori.

“There’s a very spiritual element, and in looking back at the past we had to ask, ‘What does this site mean for mana whenua, what do we see and feel here?’”

Storytelling through art

As part of the project, Enviroschools educators have been working with ākonga, and teachers have been unpacking local stories with mana whenua as part of their ongoing learning with Kura Ahurea.

Students first drew outlines on paper, before their work was transferred to aluminium and copper.

Ākonga also used learnings from other projects – like a trip down the hill to the Worser Bay Boating Club for the marine science programme Moanamana – to also tap into Māori mythology.

Using silhouettes inspired by New Zealand artist Richard Killeen, John says students began by sketching their chosen objects on to paper, then transferring the designs on to aluminium and copper shapes, which were drilled on.

An old copper water cylinder was even recycled in the process.

The different stages of the project were ongoing for 2023, and John says ākonga were assisted by Wellington designer Kimi Moana Whiting – who attended Worser Bay School 20 years ago – and in the later stages of the project, by learning assistant and artist Kate Te Ao.

John McDougall pointing to Tane-te-wānanga-ā-rangi and his journey to the heavens.

Standing at the base of the first pou, John details the knowledge and stories behind the prints.

The first pou design was inspired by the area’s forest, the land and all the creatures within it, paying homage to Haumia-tiketike, god of wild and uncultivated food.

This can be seen by the plants detailing the pou at the ground level, giving way to birds and lizards higher up.

The second pou has details from the story of Tane-te-wānanga-ā-rangi who travelled to the heavens in search of the three kete of knowledge, a journey made difficult by his jealous brother who sent plagues of insects and birds to interrupt and provide challenges.

The third pou – with fish (ika) and large octopus (wheke) dancing up and down it – was inspired by Kupe’s pursuit of Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, the monstrous octopus which had been causing trouble in the fishing grounds.

A shift in understanding

Although staff had known some of the stories previously, John says taking part in discussions with ākonga and experts brought a shift in their understanding too.

The first two pou take inspiration from Haumia-tiketike and Tane-te-wānanga-ā-rangi.

“Although we’d known some of these stories, we’d heard different perspectives. To hear them in an authentic way, you see how many levels there are, so staff are mind-blown too.”

As there are many versions and interpretations of Māori mythology, John says that rather than have each pou represent one particular story or thing, they wanted the final designs to be more all-encompassing and nuanced, reflecting a multitude of ideas once complete.

“We went more with the approach of making it child-centred. What do we see and feel here, what are the stories behind where we are?”

When asked about their favourite parts of the project, ākonga mentioned the satisfaction of seeing results after hard work, learning the stories and taking part in the artistic process from idea genesis to production.

One Year 5 student even had the future on her mind, saying, “If I come back here in 20 years, I can say ‘I made that’. That’s pretty cool!”

Connections for the future

When it came to reflecting the local stories, Worser Bay School principal Jude Pentecost says it was important that the project served an overall purpose in connecting the school’s community, both current and future.

“Because the students know the stories and created the designs on the pou, we could imagine people gathering around them and future students sharing local stories,” says Jude.

“It was very much a community-minded project, and it gives the site some real presence in Wellington, not just for us.”

Jude says the idea had been germinating for a few years and relationship building with mana whenua is always a priority, but they had to wait until they were successful in applying for a grant to help fund the project.

As quite an arts-focused school, Jude says they wanted the students to have some form of legacy – and this project certainly delivered.

“It sat neatly with our approach to learning,” she adds, noting the three main threads in the school’s curriculum document – learner agency, cultural sustainability, and wellbeing.

Te ao Māori myth of Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, the monstrous wheke.

“Learner agency encourages ākonga to be inspired and express their unique voice. Cultural sustainability acknowledges the past, our partnership in regard to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the intersection of cultural and environmental sustainability.

“Finally, there’s wellbeing, where a collaborative arts project provides ākonga with social and emotional value.”

Jude references the site’s name again, Whetūkairangi Pā and says the pou are a reminder to students and staff about the school’s connection to the sky.

“On this hilltop we are connected to the stars, hence the name.”