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Natural Monuments

Põhutukawa Memorial Carving

Natural Monuments

Põhutukawa Memorial Carving

Recommended by 17 cyclists out of 20

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Location: Zonnebeke, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Põhutukawa Memorial Carving

4.7

(44)

417

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1. Menin Gate Memorial – Hill 60 Memorial loop from Moorslede

57.9km

03:21

240m

Expert bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

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Expert

4.7

(24)

174

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2. Hill 60 Memorial – Zillebeke Pond loop from Ieper

30.7km

01:54

150m

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.7

(24)

170

riders

3. Zillebeke Pond – Menin Gate Memorial loop from Mexico

29.6km

01:48

150m

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Willem VS

May 8, 2025

The Põhutukawa Memorial Carving, also known as the Pou Maumahara, is an impressive 8-metre-high Maori wood carving. The monument, which weighs 6 tonnes, was created by master carvers, teachers and students from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) in Rotorua, New Zealand. The carving is made from 4,500-year-old native New Zealand wood and symbolises the memory of the Maori soldiers who fought in World War I .

An interesting anecdote about the Põhutukawa Memorial Carving concerns the symbolism of the pohutukawa tree itself. Also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree because of its flowering in December, this tree has deep spiritual significance to the Maori . The red flowers of the pohutukawa are often compared to the poppies of Passchendaele, which bloom as a symbol of remembrance .

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

August 24, 2022

An impressive memorial that portrays the role of the Maori presence in Europe during the First World War in this way.

The monument a stone's throw from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917.

The pou maumahara (commemorative carving) is made from 4,500-year-old native New Zealand wood by master sculptors, teachers and students at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) in Rotorua, New Zealand.

The memorial has two sides representing Tumatauenga (war) and Rongomaraeroa (peace), a recognition of those who traveled great distances to participate in the war, as well as those who remained in New Zealand."

"Pohutukawa trees welcomed the tupuna (ancestors) of New Zealand's Maori people when they first arrived in the country, and were also the tree that spiritually bids farewell to our loved ones."

The story depicted “Pou maumahara” is part of New Zealand's shared history with Belgium – and the reason why so many of our people travel here every year to honor the memory of those who fought in the First World War.

The red pohutukawa flower is also often compared to the poppy in Passchendaele when it blooms.

The monument weighs just over six tons and is eight meters high.

A monument to look up to with respect.

You can also pronounce the Haka at this location.

Ka mate! Ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!

Ka mate! Ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru

Nana nei i tiki mai

Whakawhiti te ra

Aupa ... no! Aupa ... no!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!

Hi!!!

haha!!!

Dutch translation:

This death! This death! This life! This life!

This death! This death! This life! This life!

Behold! There's a hairy man

He brought something

He let the sun shine

A step forward! Another step forward!

One step forward, another.. The sun is shining!!

Hi!!!

haha!!!

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 70 m

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Thursday 9 October

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Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Zonnebeke, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

Põhutukawa Memorial Carving

1. Menin Gate Memorial – Hill 60 Memorial loop from Moorslede

2. Hill 60 Memorial – Zillebeke Pond loop from Ieper

3. Zillebeke Pond – Menin Gate Memorial loop from Mexico

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