This large carved figure represents Pūkākī, who was an important leader of the Ngāti Whakaue tribe. He is being welcomed home by his descendants in 1997 after being returned from the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The return recognised Ngāti Whakaue’s role as kaitiaki of this taonga (treasure). They then took Pūkākī to the Rotorua District Council, where he now stands. The carving was originally part of a waharoa (gateway) at Te Papa-i-Ōuru marae.
Using this item
Private collection, Paul Tapsell
Photograph by Hamish Macdonald
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