Ngā Pou o Heretaunga are a unique collection of 18 pou tūpuna ancestral posts whose stories span 20 generations. The pou were unveiled during Marua o Matariki on 26 July 2013. An additional pou was unveiled on 17 February 2017 representing the genealogy Te Waka Tapu o Tākitimu The Sacred Vessel of Tākitimu. The pou gives the genealogy of the vessel and its connections to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Rarotonga and Aotearoa.
There are many stars of the Mangaroa Milky Way Galaxy that are special to Heretaunga mana whenua. They are sewn in the night sky as the Purapura Whetū Myriads of Stars of the goddess Hinenui-te-pō and the myriads of stars cloak sky father Ranginui.
Within the myriad is a group of stars known as Matariki Pleiades, Puanga Rigel, and Whakaahu Castor. These are morning stars of hōtoke winter whose rays foretell the season and give direction for tohunga priests and rangatira chiefs to direct the industrial pursuits of the tribe for the year ahead.
The placement of Ngā Pou o Heretaunga recognises the significance of Matariki, specifically aligned with the positions of the Matariki constellation above Civic Square at night. Each pou faces the direction of their respective marae.
Heretaunga Hastings District is unique for having 25 active marae, with 18 represented in Civic Square.
