Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Pou Maumahara – Māori Pioneer Battalion Memorial

Pou Maumahara – Māori Pioneer Battalion Memorial

Highlight • Monument

Pou Maumahara – Māori Pioneer Battalion Memorial

Recommended by 44 hikers out of 46

Save

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

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Pou Maumahara – Māori Pioneer Battalion Memorial

4.6

(55)

404

hikers

1. Peace Monument Sculpture – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Mexico

13.8km

03:34

70m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.6

(54)

359

hikers

2. Polygoonbos – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Zonnebeke

16.3km

04:11

70m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.4

(43)

292

hikers

3. Zillebekevijver – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Torrepoort

27.6km

07:05

130m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

Tips

Franky De Witte

October 31, 2022

The Pou Maumahara - Pohutokawa is an 8 meters high and 6 tons Maori monument that honors the New Zealand Maori and other soldiers from WWI. Master woodcarvers, teachers and students from the NZMACI in Rotorua crafted this totem from an indigenous wood that is more than 4,500 years old. The Pou Maumahare bears the name 'Pohutokawa' which refers to the native tree that symbolizes new beginnings as well as farewell. Pohutokawa trees welcomed the Maori tupuna (ancestors) when they first set foot ashore. Her flower is the image of the blooming poppy. The monument has two sides representing both Tumatauenga (war) and Rongomaraeroa (peace). The monument is the first of its kind to specifically recognize the role of the Maori.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

December 20, 2024

An impressive memorial that vividly illustrates the role of the Maori presence in Europe during the First World War.
The monument is a stone's throw from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917.
The pou maumahara (memorial carving) is made from 4,500 year old native New Zealand wood by master carvers, teachers and students from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) in Rotorua, New Zealand.
The monument has two sides representing Tumatauenga (war) and Rongomaraeroa (peace), recognising those who travelled great distances to take part in the war, as well as those who remained in New Zealand",
"Pohutukawa trees welcomed the tupuna (ancestors) of the Maori people of New Zealand 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 so many of our people travel here each year to honour the memory of those who fought in the First World War.
The red pohutukawa flower is also often compared to the poppy at Passchendaele when it is in bloom.
The monument weighs just over six tonnes and is eight metres high.
A monument to look up to with respect.
You can also observe the Haka at this location pronounce.
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
A upa ... ne! A upa ... ne!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
Hi!!!
Ha!!!
English translation:
This death! This death! This life! This life!
This death! This death! This life! This life!
Behold! There stands a hairy man
He has brought something
He made the sun shine
A step forward! Another step forward!
A step forward, another.. The sun is shining!!
Hi!!!
Ha!!!

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 40 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 6 November

15°C

11°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

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

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Polygon Wood Cemetery

Uitzicht Over Het Polygoonbos

Brothers in Arms Memorial

Buttes New British Cemetery and 5th Australian Division Memorial

Hill 62 Canadian Memorial

Heuvel 60 bewaarde Slagveld (Eerste Wereldoorlog)

Canadian Passchendaele Memorial Garden

Gasthuisbossen

Zonnebeke Castle Domain and Memorials

Captain Clement Robertson VC Memorial

Wooden Sculpture

Sanctuary Wood Cemetery

Pou Maumahara – Māori Pioneer Battalion Memorial

1. Peace Monument Sculpture – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Mexico

2. Polygoonbos – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Zonnebeke

3. Zillebekevijver – Polygon Wood Cemetery loop from Torrepoort

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️