“In the silence of the rocks, the spirit of the old inhabitants is alive”
The early Waitaha were a nomadic people travelling extensively in search of food and raw materials for tools. During their travels they used the natural limestone caves for shelter. The smooth rock faces provided an ideal surface on which to record their stories.
The pictures portray the life and history of these people. Unfortunately due to natural deterioration and deliberate vandalism, these visions of the past are fast disappearing. This present generation may be the last to view these drawings, to ponder on their significance and to imagine the life of the ancient Waitaha.
Waitaha used a wide range of materials like fat, charcoal, kokowai, red ochre. Waitaha worked in many colour pigments which have faded with time while only the red and black ones remain today.
The claim that the paint was indelible is substantiated by the state of preservation of the work as some of the black rock painting are probably over 1000 years old.
The great bulk of these paintings are to be found in South Canterbury at Waitohi, Opuha, Pareora, Opihi, Pleasant Point and elsewhere. They are also to be found in Weka Pass in North Canterbury at Otakiro and Maerewhenua in North Otago.
Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki 
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