Story: Nelson region

Wakatū Incorporation carving

Wakatū Incorporation carving

This carving stands in the Wakatū Incorporation’s registered office in Nelson. The Wakatū Incorporation, established in 1977, oversees the assets and lands of the Nelson Tenths. As part of the terms of original land purchases one-tenth of all land sold was to be set aside as native reserves. This was not consistently applied and much of the land that was set aside was subsequently alienated by the Crown. The circular top of the carving incorporates Wakatū’s logo, showing a koru (fern frond) rising up as a wave, with a symbolic canoe prow. The base represents the history of the Nelson area. The central figure at the bottom is Te Rauparaha, and the small figures down each side represent the original chiefs of the four tribes, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Tama and Te Āti Awa, who were the original owners of the Nelson Native Reserve lands now vested in the Wakatū Incorporation.

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Wakatū Incorporation

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Nelson region - Government', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/28972/wakatu-incorporation-carving (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, updated 1 Aug 2015