Re your article in The Weekend Sun 15 October concerning the chainsaw destruction done to the two pou whenua which had been recently placed on the roadside at the bottom of Mangorewa Gorge.
Shortly before they were damaged I had reason to travel to Rotorua and had noticed them plus the display board placed in the rest area on the Rotorua side of the gorge.
On the way home I stopped and had a good look at all three and admired them. At the time I thought ‘I hope the magnificent monuments are not vandalised like the black concrete toilets which were erected at the top of the Kaimai Ranges some years ago opposite that spring which is where people go to collect its very pure water.
The toilets were well constructed and a real asset to travellers. However, vandals attacked them. They were tagged and the toilet pans plus the wash basins, piping etc was either smashed or broken out.
People need to be educated about the importance historically and otherwise of the features commissioned by the New Zealand Transport Agency and placed on the sites. Perhaps publicity about the significance of the gorge as a travelling route to and from Rotorua long and after the European people arrived would help ignorant people understand. At one time it was the only route to Rotorua from the North.
Perhaps you could discuss the matter with Peri Kohu as I feel ignorance has played a part in the destruction.
I am not of Maori decent but I do know that the Maori people had a very important portage track from Tauranga to Rotorua which went via the gorge.
(abridged)
Will Goldsmith, Tauranga.