This unique artwork was carved on site at the museum by Taupo artist Delani Brown in 2010.  'Ruaumoko, the god of geothermal, volcanoes and earthquakes', is depicted in this 2.3 metre high carving. The natural root structure gives this atua (god) a fantastic appearance in keeping with Ruaumoko's power and mana. He was carved from the lower trunk section of an ancient kauri tree from the far north of New Zealand. The timber was recovered from a peat swamp from where it had lain buried for thousands of years.

This wonderful carving was purchased for the Taupo Museum in August 2010 jointly by MB Century and the Taupo District Council.  Since 1949, MB Century has taken the leading role in the field of geothermal investigation drilling and development in the central North Island.  It is therefore entirely appropriate that MB Century embraced the development of the artwork and donated Ruaumoko the geothermal god in a display celebrating this area's fascinating geothermal features and also the use of geothermal energy.