Swords into Ploughshares

On an afternoon walk today I found this splendid carving near the local museum, There was an information plaque, and I quote it in full.

The Pou-ihi is a cultural recognition of conservation and its value in Maori society. The Tangata whenua (local Maori) with the assistance of the Maori and South Pacific Arts Council in 1988 gifted this carving to the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park.

The of Pou-ihi shows only half a person. Rongo represents the portion of the people who recognise and uphold the values of conservation. Rongo's upraised arm holds a ko (digging stick) which symbolises the concepts and instruments that will bring about the healing of Papatuanuku (Mother Earth).

The carving faces west so that symbolically it rises to shine the light of conservation knowledge on those in darkness (like the setting sun).

The extra is an old ship's cannon which came to Russell (Kororareka) as ballast in a ship which was unseaworthy and therefore broken up. 

This morning I presented my paper on the value of lithium in orthodox treatment of bipolar disorder and the gowing awareness that microlevels of lithium have a positive influence on the health and behaviour of people at a population level. It went down very well.