December 23, 2018
Lake Taupo carvings to be restored
Artist Matahi Brightwell is to return to the scene of one of his most ambitious creations, a carving of the ancestor Ngātoroirangi on a rock face at Mine Bay on Lake Taupo.
To prepare for the 40th anniversary of the work, Brightwell will lead a team to clean and resculpt some of the smaller surrounding carvings, which depict tupuna and kaitiaki important to Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
They will return the following summer to carve Ngatoroirangi’s eyes, completing the work.
The original carving was started in 1996 and finished four years later.
It has since become one of New Zealand’s most visited tourist attractions.
Destination Great Lake Taupo general manager, Damian Coutts says work will start on February 6, and he expects the maintenance programme will become a drawcard for visitors to see the artist in action.
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