Image
The poupou (carving) in the centre of this photo is of the Te Arawa ancestor Tamatekapua. He is on stilts, reflecting an incident in Hawaiki where he used stilts to steal fruit – one of the actions which led to him leaving for New Zealand on the Te Arawa canoe. Several traditional waiata recall the deeds of Tamatekapua.
Using this item
Reference: PA7-05-36
by Burton Brothers
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.