Now located at the entrance to Christchurch International Airport, the Native American Totem Pole of Friendship was presented to Christchurch in gratitude for the city’s warm hospitality given to personnel of Operation Deep Freeze (a series of United States Navy Antarctic Expeditions between 1955 and 1998 with the purpose of advancing Antarctic hydrography, weather, glacial and marine life knowledge).
Given by the Oregon Centennial Commission and the Portland Zoological Society, the 9m high totem a smaller version of one that stands in the zoological gardens in Portland, Oregon.
It was carved in 1959 by Cherokee chief Lelooska from a cedar tree. Each of the figures on it are symbolic - the Thunderbird at the top, honouring airmen who made the first supply drop at the South Pole in October 1956; the killer whale, honouring the mariners who opened sea lanes to the Antarctic; the eagle is the official symbol of the United States; the grizzly bear, the toughest animal in Indian lore, symbolic of pioneers; the beaver is Oregon's state animal.
It initially stood in Christchurch city, in little Hagley Park, before moving to the Airport in 1980.
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/the-totem-pole/