The story

Rock art is found all over the world, with the oldest dating back 60,000 years. Rock paintings and cave art provide insights into the lives of early indigenous peoples. 

The Māori rock art sites located throughout Te Waipounamu are one of the most direct and tangible expressions of the long-standing connection between mana whenua and the land. They record tribal history from the earliest moa hunting times to contact with Europeans and mark the ara tawhito (traditional travel routes) and mahinga kai (food gathering places) used by successive generations, over many centuries. Most rock art sites are in the limestone rich areas of the Aoraki district covering North Otago and South Canterbury.

Rock art can be either scratched or carved into stone or painted or drawn onto the stone’s surface. In Aotearoa, animal or bird fat was mixed with vegetable gum and soot or kōkōwai (red ochre) to make a long-lasting black or red paint. In Te Waipounamu, rock art was most commonly applied to limestone – its smooth pale surface providing the perfect canvas. 

These drawings of charcoal and ochre are vulnerable to the elements, windborne dust, animal rubbing, changes to the environment and the passing of time. The limestone surfaces are unstable and easily eroded. The rock art of Aotearoa includes the earliest records created by this country’s first inhabitants, so it is vital to promote and preserve these fragile sites. Te Ana is designed specifically to raise awareness of this tangible taonga and to encourage people to respect, conserve and protect it for generations to come.