Carvers Rakei Kingi, of Pukaki and Turumakina descent, and Shannon Wafer, of Te Atiawa and Ngapuhi descent, expect this week to finish carving the pare that will sit above the doorway of the foyer to the arena. Once the pare is complete, the pair will begin work on the whakawae, a carving that will run the length of the doorway.

Mr Kingi said there had been significant interest in the production of the pare, and invited the public to watch him and Mr Wafer on the job between 9am to 8pm at the old Rotorua Printers building in Haupapa St.

“If anyone’s interested in the education or production of traditional Maori carving and art, they are welcome to come down and watch.”

The carving which depicts the six koromatua of Ngati Whakaue – Te Roro o te Rangi, Hurunga te Rangi, Pukaki, Tunohopu, Rangiiwaho and Taeotu – has so far taken nearly three weeks of early starts and long nights to complete.

Mr Kingi said the Ngati Whakaue leaders had been represented individually before, but never as six koromatua together as a pare.

“I feel honoured to be representing my own tupuna (ancestors), and the tupuna of the wider Rotorua region. It’s good that it’s going in the Events Centre as my tribe, Ngati Whakaue, gifted the land that it’s built on.” 

He said the Ngati Whakaue designs date back to the 1700s, while the composition was designed by Te Puia master carver, Clive Fugill.