December 18, 2012
Giant whakairo for Te Matatini
The stage at Te Matatini in Rotorua in February is to be framed in one of the largest carvings created in this country.
A team from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute is building a 30 metre wide mahau or porch front, featuring carvings representing iwi throughout the country.
Te Puia Director Karl Johnstone says the institute had a long-standing relationship with the Māori Performing Arts Festival, which is reflected in the million dollar plus project.
“For us it was an opportunity to marry the best of our traditions and to do that we wanted to ensure that all of those tangible and intangible elements were represented in all of their glory and the best possible exposition of our collective art forms”. He says
Karl Johnstone says the 26 tonne mahau is designed to stand free of the stage, and it can be easily erected and knocked down so it can be used for other events.
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