The North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery Alliance (NCTIR) was based in Kaikōura for four years following the devastating Kaikōura Earthquake which struck on 14 November 2016. Along with removing landslides and repairing the highway, NCTIR was tasked with constructing safe stopping areas and making general improvements to the Kaikōura Coastline. A design hui was held between NCTIR and the Cultural Advisory Group (CAG) who developed the idea of telling stories through culturally significant artworks featured along the coastline. These artworks can be seen in multiple forms from Oaro to Clarence.
In this small picnic area stands one of two types of tekoteko (small carved figures), a manaia. Manaia are mythical creatures in Māori culture who are usually depicted as having the head of a bird and the body of a man, or the tail of a fish. The other type of tekoteko, tangata, have a human form and face. These silent sentinels can be found dotted along the coast at safe stopping areas and other small pull in locations like this one.
The cache is a small sistema container located a short distance from the tekoteko. Watch out for rocks hidden in the long grass.