Ngā Ara Tipuna is reaching a huge milestone this week, with the beautifully crafted pieces that will bring the stories of Tamatea and its people to life being installed across seven historic ...

Most New Zealanders would have come across kōwhaiwhai — the lyrical patterns traditionally painted in whare tipuna (meeting houses), on the bow of waka and in many other carved objects.

Te Whanau a Pokai carver Lionel Matenga led a project to recreate the front of his whare tipuna Pokai at Tikapa Marae, in the East Coast style of Iwirakau. Picture by Natalie Robertson ...