Arataki Visitor Centre

Arataki Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.

Carvings created by local Iwi (tribe) Te Kawerau a Maki are a main feature of Arataki.

A 12 metre pou (guardian post), carved by the people of Te Kawerau a Maki and depicting their ancestors, stands at the entrance to the visitor centre. This pou, unveiled by Kiingi Tuheitia (the Maori King) in 2011, replaced the building’s original carving that had become irreparably damaged by weather over time.

The carvings remind us of the importance of our native forest and the relationship we all have with it. They tell the stories of Te Kawerau a Maki, as local mana whenua or guardians of the land.

The whakairo (carvings) inside the building were carved out of two kauri trees taken from the great forest of Tiriwa (the Waitakere Ranges) by Te Kawerau a Maki and depict their illustrious ancestors.

The original Arataki pou stood at the entrance to the Arataki Visitor Centre for 15 years, from 1994 to 2009.

In the early 1990’s original head carver John Collins and fellow carver Bernard Makoare selected a dead standing kauri from Cascade Kauri in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland. This five tonne icon of the forest was felled and helicoptered out in five pieces, then trucked to Mt Smart Stadium where Collins and his team of carvers began their work.

 it was suffering irreparable weather damage.Under the guidance of John Collins the pou has been cared for and maintained since its installation.   It has been regularly cleaned and treated with a protective coating. A routine 

check in late 2006 revealed signs of timber-weakening decay and investigations into the extent of the damage began. 

Visual checks, probing and ultrasound scanning were carried out.  The ARC obtained engineering advice, the opinion of a wood  conservator at the Auckland Museum, and installed additional bracing to support the pou and maintain its safety. 

For my Save the World meme,  The above version of the damage of the Pou is the official version. I have also heard of other versions which are plausible. The Pou was only 15 years old. There are security cameras at the place now. Get the gist?

http://annkschin.blogspot.co.nz/2009/01/arataki-visitor-centre-2.html

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/ 

Sunday stills: Numbers

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Some important Government department in Singapore, all computerised.

A vehicle that stores windsurfing gear.

My Tongan friend George's certificate for his best dressed stall.

My brand new business chair went faulty, and I decided to send them photos of the chair and the receipt. This company was wonderful, and gave us a choice of a refund, get a replacement or pay more money and get a better chair. Paki Paki to this company.

photohunt:graveyard

Gatinna. have you got ESP or what? I wear my Sands blue bracelet and my massage therapist asked me why I was wearing it. She had read my book so she understood when I tried to explain.

 Yesterday, A pair of New Zealand parents, Jane and Martin Weekes had to bury 3. A school mate much younger than me buried his wife.
http://annsnowchin.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/skywatch-friday-bleak-cold-winter-in.html

In this little grave lies a loved child at Okahu Bay. The parents must have chosen this to represent themselves. It is heart breaking to have to bury your child. I know, I did this 22 years ago.


This is a very old Chinese Grave found next the Sarawak Museum in Kuching. You don't find many of these big graves today especially in land scarced Singapore and Hongkong. In these two countries, the dead are exhumed to make way for the living.

These graves are called armchairs, It looks like a sofa seat. It is the chair of a very important official of the king's court. It is commonly believed that when a man is alive, he may be lowly peasant, but when he dies he can still be an official of the king. Therefore, no expense is spared to build the grave.

The other reason is the Chinese used to ( they still do) worship their ancestors, and pray to them to look after them and bless them. My Grandfather used to tell us, when a disaster had been avoided, it is because our ancestors have been seated high up, so he could see afar and take care of us. The dead doesn't sleep, so he is sitted in the arm chair. if he was sleeping, he couldn't be taking care of us. A good grave site is high up the slopes of the hills where he could see far far away.




http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/list-of-photo-hunting-themes.html

http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com

Friday My Town Shoot Out for June 8: Interiors

I just read from my Facebook that a school mate Arthur who was much younger than me has become a widower. My first thoughts to him was It's OK to cry. Then I thought of how it was when I was face with bereavement when my baby was dying. I thought of the poem Footprints in the sand my friend Betty Stevens gave to me.

This poem tells of how during our most difficult time, God did not abandon us, but he was carrying us, though it seems he had.

http://llerrah.com/footprints.htm

I dedicated these photos of tranquillity to Arthur and his children. May you find solace by crying out to God.


This is an old Church in Singapore. The church I go to Mt Albert Baptist church is modern.  I will post the Auckland Tabernacle which is very old.


This is at 429 Upper Queen Street. the Tab was our home church for more than ten years before we left for Singapore.

We were married in this church,
We were baptised here, and we had our son Andrew's funeral service here.
We made live long friends here.

The organ is a beautiful instrument.


The imposing Baptist Tabernacle at the top of Queen Street was the largest building in the town of Auckland when it was opened in 1886.

My friend Paul Khor took these photos. I have to post the exterior too, to show it's glory.

Friday My Town Shoot Out for June 8: Interiors

Show us something from the inside. 

link to Mr Linky at the Friday shoot out link below.

http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com

Thursday Challenge: containers

CONTAINER (Glass, Cup, Bowl, Box, Baskets,...)
Thursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning. 

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

My World Tuesday , Outdoor Wednesday: Fan Palm.

Take my better looking side or angle. It seems that celebrities are told that certain angles of their face  make them look better. As for me, I always hide at the back if we were taking a group photo. LOL

This post started with my ex Kai Chung student Dora, posting on her Facebook page. I thought the grower had planted grapes and used the palm as a frame for support. Dora said is was inedible and the birds ate them. The sceptical me asked if the grower had put some fake fruits to fool Dora. Right photo, the gorgeous looking fruits. Left side, the same plant. The fruits looks so delicious that I just want to chomp on them.

 Francis posted his fan palm fruits, and you can see that the fruits are of inferior quality. If you were growing palm oil, you need to feed the trees. I asked Francis if he fertilised his plant, and he did it once in a while. The fruits will turn from orange to red. A farmer needs to feed his plants to get good fruits. Thanks Dora and Francis. And the other Francis from Canada who has never seen this fruit before, neither have I.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/ 

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

Sunday stills: Shades of blue

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

shades of blue