Pouwhenua at Meretoto/Ship Cove, carved from tōtara, representing the tangata whenua/first people of the land
Image: Janet Bathgate © 

You have arrived at Meretoto/Ship Cove, to walk in the footsteps of Aoraki and his brothers; Kupe the great Pacific navigator; and generations of Māori and Europeans who followed.

Ranginui ki runga
Ko Papatūānuku ki raro
Mai i te kāhui maunga
Ki te wao nui a Tāne
Ki te moana o Tangaroa
Tihei Mauri ora!
Toitū te whenua, ngaro atu te tuāngata
E ngā manuhiri tuārangi nei rā te reo owha
Ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai ki tēnei
Whenua houkura
He taonga tuku iho, manaakihia, tiakina
Kia pai te haere A tōna wā 

Skyfather/Ranginui is above
Earthmother/Papatūānuku is below
From the the majestic mountain tops
to the sacred forests of Tāne, to the webbing tides
of the seas of Tangaroa
I sneeze the breath of life!
People shall disappear but the land remains forever
To all of the visitors from near and far
We welcome you all to this peaceful area
A treasure handed down from our ancestors
Protect and look after it
Welcome and we wish you a safe journey