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| The carving ready to be unveiled, foyer Thames Hospital |
The carving was blessed and unveiled at 9am, 2 October 2018. Present were local iwi led by Kaumatua Wati Ngamane and Dr Korohere Ngapo.
The carving is named 'Te Tirohanga' and is the work of local carvers.
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| Top left: The blessing begins. Top right: The carving is unveiled. Above: There ceremony continues in the foyer of Thames Hospital. |
In the centre are photographs of the Thames Hospital c1900, that give the impression of having been etched into the wood.
A full description of the carving is available online.
"Master carver Darin Jenkins created the piece, together with several other carvers.
He said the Pare-Lintel wall furnishing, which hangs in the hospital's main entrance, represented the coming together of two peoples for the benefit, health and wellbeing off all.
This relationship is shown in the piece by the acknowledgement of each other by the hongi, the pressing together of noses enabling the merging of "Hā ora" the breath of life, the life essence, as expressed in the saying "Tīhei mauri ora".
"The beauty of this uniting concept is reinforced by native Huia and introduced pheasant birds on either side representing the gift of trust between peoples." Between the central photo and bird figure are spiral patterns known as takarangi representing hononga joining – unity in the realm of enlightenment, Te Ao Marama, the world of light." Source: Stuff.co.nz
ABOVE: Full view of the carving 'Te Tirohanga'.
BELOW: Closer look at the central carving of the Maori Chief and the Nurse,
ABOVE: Closer look left at the central photos of the hospital that have been incorporated into the carving, And right the kiwi and query huia combined to represent the native birds of Aortearoa.
