Ōtanewainuku and Pūwhenua stand proud at Greenpark School's gates, bringing the school's people together.

Greenpark School gathered for the unveiling of the Pou at their Cameron Road entrance last week, receiving a special blessing by kaumatua Tamati Tata.

'In keeping with Māori tradition a Pou represents a pillar of light which allows the natural world and people to flourish and prosper,” says Greenpark School principal Gareth Scholes.

'We wanted our Pou whakaaro to reflect this while enhancing and linking the stories of Māuao and Taurikura, which our school values and houses are based on.”

The Pou have been in the making for the last 36 months, with the school working with Stu McDonald and members of Ahipoutu Collective. 'They designed, carved and painted our Pou. Stu was great, inviting a group of student leaders to learn more about the design and carving process and paint the pou,” says Gareth.

He says The Pou – Ōtanewainuku and Pūwhenua – symbolise the importance of people coming together at their kura (school). 'The purakau (legends) of the pou tell the stories of Mauao and Taurikura and represent our four houses Ōtanewainuku, Pūwhenua, Waimapu and Kopurererua.” These house groups help people connect within smaller groups and allow for stronger connections across the school, says Gareth. 'Our tikanga values of Arohatanga, Whanaungatanga, Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga are intricately incorporated within each pou.”