One story from the Ngāti Porou tribe which links back to their ancestors tells of how the ancestor Pourangahua brought kūmara (sweet potato) to New Zealand. The two sacred albatrosses which accompanied him were the source of this tukutuku design, known as roimata toroa (albatross tears). Listen to Pine Taiapa, an expert in carving and art, explain the story behind the design.
Transcript
When he was just about to get down to terra firma, the birds gave a sign. He forgot all about the prayers of thanksgiving, for his safe arrival, thinking only of Kani O Wai, his beautiful wife. Upon, how I shall I put it the Pākehā way? After the show was over, he suddenly thought of the birds, and there found the birds crying, with their teardrops staining the breasts of the birds.
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Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Pine Taiapa - tukutuku techniques, Reference number: 40735. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
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