Māori artwork enhances trail
From interpretation panels to whakairo (Māori carvings), Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest Loop Great Ride has worked alongside those that are mana whenua of the lands the trail passes through. We profile five artists behind the works riders will come across on the trail to help them understand the history and ancestors of the people whose land they are riding through.
Wāhiao (son of Umukaria) by Iwi Le Comte
Iwi Le Comte created the sculpture above using a 10 tonne rock deposited in the forest during the 1886 Tarawera Eruption and affixing a bronze mask recognising Wāhiao’s leadership, mana and strength.
Iwi Le Comte - Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngāi Tuhoe.
Umukaria by Tukiri Tini
Artist Tukiri Tini has chosen the traditional form of toi whakairo (art of wood carving) to carve the 4m tall Tōtara above.
Tukiri Tini - Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hinekura, Tainui, Ngāi Tahu.
Kēti Tāniko (modern Tūhourangi design) by Denise Morgan-Koia
This taonga above created by Denise Morgan-Koia uses sheet steel and is inspired by the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao (tribe of Whakarewarewa) Kapa Haka tāniko pattern.
Denise Morgan-Koia – Tūhourangi, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Tainui.
Kataore by Tāwhanga Rika
Artist Tāwhanga Rika has created this sculpture of Kataore from corten steel and mātai. Representing the ancient massive lizard or taniwha, the disk is 4m in diameter and sits 3m high.
Tāwhanga Rika - Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Rangiwewehi.
Hinemoa and Tūtānekai by Okiwi Logan Shipgood
The historical romance of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai has been immortalised in this 3.5m high cement taonga above, sculpted by Okiwi Shipgood.
Okiwi Logan Shipgood – Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Tūmatawera, Ngāti Kahu Upoko, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Hinekura.
* Special thanks to the iwi Tūhourangi Ngāti Wahiao for their help in putting this together.
* Find out more about the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop Great Ride or check out all 23 of our Great Rides.
