Producer: The Wellington Boys' and Girls’ Institute (BGI)

Location: Chaffers Dock, 22 Herd Street. 

Dates: December 1 2014 – ongoing. Monday-Friday, 9-5pm.  

Images: Gabrielle McKone

Ka Puta is a youth gallery and workshop space housing an 11-metre tōtara log that over six months is being carved into a poutokomanawa (carved post) in a space on Chaffers Wharf. The carver (pictured) is artist Ihaia Puketapu.The pou honours the 135 year history of BGI and will be at the front of their refurbished headquarters. 

This is a unique project involving a group Māori youth, many from a mentoring group called ‘Te Mangōpare o Taita'. The space is also operating as a gallery space, with street art by the young and contributions from other artists. Ka Puta will grow as the project grows.

BGI is an organisation that was founded by young people in 1883. BGI strives to be a place where Pākehā and Māori rangatahi participate meaningfuly in making Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) a better region for all. Their focus is that young people and their whānau benefit from both the youth groups they run and the genuine relationships they have with Mana Whenua and with te Matua, te Tamaiti me te Wairua Tapu.

For 6 months the group tramped through the bush looking for a fallen over tree, and didn't find one. Finally the carver, five Māori boys and Ross Davis (Director) found their perfect log, in a garden in Upper Hutt.

The BGI’s newly earthquake strengthened and renovated space they run and operate from on Macdonald Crescent is due to reopen by July 2015.