Te Poupou Ko Tamakihikurangi

This carving portrays the ancestor Tamakihikurangi and aspects of hospitality known as Manakitanga.

The korero of Tamakihikurangi and his waka Ara Tawhao begins with the arrival of  two travellers from Hawaiki, Hoaki and Taukata. They are seeking the whereabouts of family and stop at Whakatane at the Pa called Kapu te Rangi, the Pa of the great chief Toi te Huatahi.

At the hakari (feast) in their honour, besides fish and fowl, the guests are served foods of the forest, being the edible parts of plants and trees these can be quite bitter to the taste. The guests then take from their provisions a dried and ground kumara (for use in travelling) and when mixed with water produces a sweet gruel. So great was the delight for this food that Toi instructs Tama to return to Hawaiki to fetch kumara that they then could grow their own supply.

The journey was successful and Tamakihikurangi returns as navigator on the Matatua waka under the Rangatira Toroa. And that is the beginning of another story, the coming of the Matatua peoples to Aotearoa.

Kaupapa of the carving.

Acknowledging connections to the Waka Matatua, the carvers have referenced a particular form and used a specific pakati notching to show these ties to Matatua. The aspect of manakitanga (hospitality) mentioned earlier, is symbolised by Tamakihikurangi holding his kete of precious provisions obtained from those distant shores of Hawaiki.

A famous whakatauki (proverbial saying) often used to reference cooperation between peoples and groups in providing hospitality is,

NAU TE ROUROU, NAKU TE ROUROU

KA ORA TE MANUHIRI

- with your food basket and my food basket we will satisfy our guest.