ABC Wednesday - K is for Katikati Haiku Pathway

ABC Wednesday: K is for Katikati Haiku Pathway

beneath the moon
the heron's slow step
towards frog sound

Michael Dylan Welch

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

The Katikati Haiku Pathway was the brainchild of Catherine Mair. It was created as part of a millennium project that sought to reclaim wasteland around the Uretara Stream which seperated the centre of this Western Bay of Plenty District town in New Zealand from the Highfields area.

watchful the night heron lowers his neck into shadow

Janice Bostok

(photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england).

I visited Catherine in 2001 and she took me on guided tour. She told me about how she came to choose the haiku used, and about the way the town co-operated, despite certain opposition, with its creation. The boulders had weathered well. After rain, water gathers in small pools on some of the lettering. We poked our fingers into one such pool. I wrote

splash of water
trickles down the stone
finds its own pathway

after visiting the above boulder.

on the farmland
new houses
slowly rising

Patricia Prime

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

shadows
on the river
darker than the birds

Catherine Mair

photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england

Holding the water,
held by it -
the dark mud.

William J Higginson

(photograph © 2001, 2008 gerald england)

Catherine tells me in a recent email that since my visit there has been massive development.

1. The 'river flats' are now a jig-saw of roofs and burgeoning gardens.
2. Haiku on 24 boulders has been repainted.
3. Two damaged author nameplates have been replaced.
4. A much more visible sign has been designed
5. Information boards are being designed and will be in place soon at the main car park.
6. Three new boulders have been engraved adjacent to the original landing.
7. Stepping stones have been installed to one boulder.
8. A viewing area has been cleared to another boulder situated in the river bed.
9. The Haiku Pathway booklet has been updated and reprinted.

Catherine Mair standing by the exit from the Haiku Path near two carved pieces created by a Maori carver representing one of the three marae in the district. They have since been removed for restoration.

in the evening
the bridge becomes dangerous
tonight's moon

Takebe Ayatari

(photograph © 2008 Sandra Simpson)

Secretary of the Pathway Focus Committee, Sandra Simpson tells me

We now have 30 engraved haiku boulders, which we believe to be the largest such grouping in English anywhere and the largest outside Japan. The poems are by 26 poets from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US, Japan, Poland and England (Alan Summers).

The Haiku Pathway guidebook was updated and reprinted to coincide with the dedication of the 3 new boulders last winter (our winter May/June).

The next 2 big projects to bring to fruition are a major new entry sign, the design of which is in keeping with the pathway, and information boards for visitors, including items such as a map of all the boulders and some background to haiku.

One of the new boulders is

summer clouds
the river and I
inclined to the sea

Peter Yovu

(photograph © 2008 Sandra Simpson)

Further information is available at Katikati Mural Town.

Discover other ABC Wednesday posts by visiting Mrs. Nesbitt's Place.