Pouwhenua

This afternoon I had a walk across a bridge crossing Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek), and then along a road leading to what was once known as Male 3. That name was likely to strike fear into the heart of any man being told he was going there. Male 3 was the ward in the old Oakley Hospital where forensic patients were detained, and anyone else thought to be violent (more often potentially violent). It is now somewhere that students at Unitec undertaking one of the design courses go for classes. I have added a photo of the front entrance as an extra.

On the old hospital side of the bridge the pouwhenua is set to welcome the manuhiri (visitors). Unfortunately the plaque in front of it is missing, and I cannot read the message in the carving, which would require knowledge also of the history of the local tangata whenua. A pouwhenua is a carved wooden post which marks a boundary, or some other place of significance