Papanui Library 150 tukutuku panel

Te Rakau Matauranga O Papanui The Tree of Knowledge of Papanui

• 122 x 60 cm

A Totara tree that stands at Papanui High School was planted on top of the burnt chips from the carvings that adorn the Whare (Te Whatukura O Papanui) at the School. The centre weaving on the panel represents this Totara tree, with three baskets of knowledge that Tane-Nui-A-Rangi got from the Heavens; Kete Aronui, Kete Tuauri, Kete Tuatea. In our panel, these “kete” also represent “Branches of Learning” coming off the main trunk of the Totara.

The left hand side of the panel depicts the four brothers who represent four of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps; Aoraki, Rakirua, Rakiroa and Rarakiroa. The white represents the snow covered peaks, the red is the inner rock of the mountain. The blue triangles represent Ranginui (Sky Father).

Further down the left hand side, the Whare represents the relationship between Papanui Library and Papanui High School, and is woven in the Papanui High School colours of green and gold. The Koru is a symbol of growth and also represents the swamp on which Papanui is built. On the right-hand side of the panel the blue is the flowing Waimakariri River. The red represents the dry channels of the famous braided river. The green represents the Greenstone (Ngā Waahi Pounamu) from which the South Island gets its Māori name – Te Wai Pounamu meaning “The Place of Greenstone”.

Related pages

• Library 150 Anniversary website
• The 150 Tukutuku panels
• Our Art Collections