Descendants of the Poutini Ngāi Tahu chief, Tūhuru, have blessed the first hyper-realistic representation of their ancestor, as part of the eagerly awaited tourism experience, the Pounamu Pathway.
Created by Wētā Workshop in Wellington, the giant figure of the West Coast warrior that stands at a scale of 2.4:1 will be erected at Greymouth’s Māwhera Centre, which is expected to open in December.
The Pounamu Pathway, a groundbreaking tourism venture on Te Tai o Poutini, will consist of four interconnected experience centres — Māwhera (Greymouth), Awarua (Haast), Kawatiri (Westport) and Hokitika — each serving as a gateway to captivating and emotive visitor experiences. Through immersive storytelling and world-first experiences, it offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the rich traditions and history of Aotearoa and the people of Poutini Ngāi Tahu.
The breathtaking representation of Tūhuru, purported to have been 7ft tall and who helped lead the final defeat of Ngāti Wairangi, has evolved from a unique collaboration between Poutini Ngāi Tahu and Wētā Workshop.
Following the battle with Ngāti Wairangi in the early 19th century, Tūhuru and his party decided to settle on the West Coast, establishing a pā at Māwhera, eventually becoming known as Poutini Ngāi Tahu.