Southland District Council’s Matariki wayfinding pou project in the works
The nine signs that have been erected in the approximate locations of the final pou, reflecting the Matariki constellation. Permission for use of the face artwork on each sign has been granted by Dr Rangi Matamua, from the book 'Matariki - The Star of the Year'.
The Southland District Council is working on a Matariki wayfinding pou project through 10 individual pou sites in partnership with Te Ao Marama.
Eight are in the Southland District Council area and two in the lnvercargill City Council area.
The project’s stage one is the installation of a sign in nine areas identified for the pou. The Pou representing Pouaka is not included in stage one.
The council is collaborating with the four rūnanga within the Murihiku takiwa, Catlins Coast Inc, Great South and Invercargill City Council for the project, which is co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).
Under round 6 of the TIF, the council was awarded $397,500 for the Matariki wayfinding pou and infrastructure support in June 2022.
The project spreads over the next 12 months. The signs serve as an introduction to the star assigned to the area.
The signs follow the Matariki constellation, reinforce the existing Southern Scenic Route and are related to the attributes of each individual star.
The 10 sites are at Te Anau, Garston, Mandeville, Matariki Cosy Nook, Taramea, Invercargill, Motupōhue Bluff, Rakiura Stewart Island, Slope Point and Curio Bay.
Stage two includes a pou and signage giving more detail about Matariki and the location.
Through the pou sites and associated interpretational panels, the project will showcase a connected wayfinding experience, embed Māori cultural narratives and history in infrastructure and landscape, and acknowledge Matariki as an integral part of our society.
The project also promotes the viewing and preservation of dark skies and astro-tourism in the Southland region, adding support to infrastructurally underserved areas such as Slope Point and boosting connections to Milford Opportunities, and the council's open spaces strategy.
In New Zealand, wayfinding pou exist in Northland and the port town of Lyttelton.
Read full article here
- The Southland Times
Link to the Matai o te Tau Website outlining the project further