Pītau Muck Naia 1/2

Nō Ngāti Kahungunu a Makarini. His early years of childhood were spent on a farm in a small country community known as Tiniroto - Place of Many Lakes, which is 57 km west inland of Gisborne. As a contemporary Māori artist, many things have influenced the vision of his Māori art and its future. Toihoukura and the tutors since he was a student there have played a major role in terms of his knowledge of all things Māori. These include whakapapa - geneology, tikanga - protocols, kapa haka - traditional performing arts, mōteatea - traditions performing arts, mōteatea - traditional chants and manaakitanga - hospitality. These aspects of Maoridom guide him and his artforms into the future. Exposure to a range of artists nationally and internationally has also been a great influence on him to work with a wide range of materials such as native timbers, metals, feathers, shells, fibre, clay and stone.