The Ken Tonks Memorial Mural is situated on the assembly hall at Manukorihi Intermediate School in Waitara East. Ken Tonks was the Principal at Manukorihi Intermediate from 1978 to 1982. He died suddenly on 13 January 1982. The mural was planned by Tonks before his death and was afterwards dedicated as his memorial.
The mural was designed by John Bevan Ford in 1982. The epa were carved by Rangi Bailey and Phillip Tippins.
The left-hand epa is Te Rangi Hīroa (Sir Peter Buck) holding a Polynesian ocean navigation stick-chart representing his Pacific anthropological researches; the right-hand carving depicts Sir Māui Pōmare. He is holding a parchment scroll indicating his position of Minister of the Crown for many years.
Websites
Whaitara: Ancient Journey Names a Town, Ron Lambert, Taranaki Stories, Puke Ariki website
John Bevan Ford holdings, Puke Ariki website
Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
