It stood watch next to the Rotorua Museum for almost 25 years, but has come to the end of its natural life.
Yesterday, the Canadian totem pole given to Rotorua 24 years ago by the Kwagiulth Indians of Vancouver was "decommissioned" during a ceremony at the site.
Rotorua District Council community arts adviser Marc Spijkerbosch said the western red cedar the totem pole was made out of had reached the end of its life and further work to restore the totem pole would be costly.