School waharoa revealed

Sinclair Knight Merz graduates at Kelburn School.

Kelburn Normal School celebrated, with support from Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) and construction company Mainzeal, the unveiling of their waharoa (gateway) recently.

The ceremony, which included school students and representatives from the community, SKM and Mainzeal, commenced with a haka powhiri performed by the students.

Following welcome speeches the waharoa was unveiled by the youngest child and the oldest child at the school.

Guests were then invited to explore the landscaped gully which includes pathways, special locations for teaching and child related activities.

“The school has been working on upgrading the gully since 2000 and the unveiling of the waharoa is a significant milestone in the project. We wish to pay special tribute to Jono Randell the carver of the waharoa, as well as SKM and Mainzeal who have provided their expertise in upgrading the gully and notably the design for the placement and foundations of the waharoa,” said Jill Burdett, principal.

The waharoa symbolises passing into a special space and respecting that space. The posts are macrocarpa and the steel feather was sculpted by Dutch artist Riks Terstappen. The carving on the poles represents the Aka vine. In some tribal myths Aka was the vine that Tane Mahuta climbed after receiving the Kete baskets of knowledge. The vines connect Rangi the sky father and Papa Tuanuku the earth mother in a physical and symbolic way.

The gully project was seen as a unique opportunity for the school and its students to develop a close working relationship with local iwi and businesses.

The project has welcomed support from all parts of the community.

Following the erection of the Waharoa, the project team will be putting in place further paths and activity areas. The gully will continue to be an important resource for the school and the Kelburn community.