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A Ngati Porou sculptor is on his way home after completing a massive work in a French sculpture park
Since 2009 Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia has done three two-month residentices at Les Lapidiales north of Bordeaux to work on the piece in an old limestone quarry.
He says the work, 'De l'Ambime A l'Azur': From the depths of the earth to the Blue Azure, is done in the style of his tupuna Riwai Pakerau, who worked on several East Coast whare nui.
It is based on the Maori creation story of Tanenuiarangi taking on the goddess of death Hinenuitepo.
"Sort of five by five metres is the big taa moko of Taneuiarangi. Below that is Hinenuitepo, a very large tuatara to represent tipuna, ira atua in the form of takarangi or two eels and down from there to the entrance of the cave is the guardian of the caves Te Tatau o Rarohinga – Te Kuwatawata," he says.
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