Memorial carving to adorn Opera in the Pa

New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts' Institute head of National Wood Carving School Arekatera Maihi working on the pou maumahara which commemorates World War I.

Concertgoers at this weekend's Opera in the Pa at Te Puia will have a personal opportunity to reflect on the impact of World War I by placing a remembrance poppy at the base of a memorial carving.

The pou maumahara (memorial carving) is being carved by teachers and students at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of World War I. The plan is it will eventually be located at a historical war site.

Institute director Karl Johnstone said the carving was 8m high and was being created from laminated 4500-year-old swamp kauri from Northland.

"The finished carving will have two sides.

The first commemorates Maori from iwi across New Zealand who left these shores to support the war effort - some of whom never made it back again.

"The second side acknowledges those who remained at home, including those that opposed conscription and the call to war. Both are an important part of the history of our country, and our culture," Mr Johnstone said.

Te Puia sales and marketing general manager Kiri Atkinson-Crean said the poppy tribute would be a fitting part of the programme for Opera in the Pa.

"Concertgoers will be invited to place their poppy at the memorial pou at the end of the evening's musical programme, which has been specifically designed to honour the brave men of World War I, showcasing songs from that period."

The Opera in the Pa programme includes popular rallying anthems from the time.

"This year's World War I centenary events focus on the Anzac connection, and this weekend's Opera in the Pa programme will make its own small but significant contribution to the wider remembrance activities," Ms Atkinson-Crean said.

Tickets are available from Te Puia Admissions or online at www.tepuia.com. Entry is free for children under 15 years.

- Organisers are giving away five double passes to the event through the Rotorua Daily Post. To enter, email your name and contact details to readers@dailypost.co.nz with Opera in the Pa in the subject line. Winners will be drawn Friday morning.