Artist
Thomas (Darby) Ryan- 1905
Tuwharetoa Gallery
Explore Taupo's Māori history and heritage and feel the spirit of this diverse people and their dynamic living culture.
Tūwharetoa is the name of the local Māori tribe (iwi) who have lived in the Taupo area for centuries. Today, the people of Ngati Tuwharetoa make up close to 30% of the population of the Taupo district and are the sixth biggest iwi in the country.
Find out more about their relationship with ancestral lands, waters, cultural sites and taonga (treasures).
A 15 metre waka tētē made from one mighty totara log is the centrepiece exhibit, representing the journey from the past to present.
Tuwharetoa Window Graphic
The overall waka theme of the gallery was kept in mind for this design and inspiration was found from the Tuwharetoa taonga Te Awa o Te Atua (Putatara - conch shell trumpet) - a tribal hierloom, and the four winds.
The Island
View a 40 minute-long documentary about Motutaiko, Lake Taupo's sacred and historical isle, made to increase understanding about the island's significance to local Māori.
The Pathway of the Waka
This interactive touchscreen offers an insight into the pre-European world of Māori around Taupomoana (Lake Taupo).
Weaving with Harakeke (NZ Flax)
Watch a short DVD and learn about traditional ways of working with flax. Well-known weaver/artist Rokahurihia Ngarimu-Cameron demonstrates the art of making a piupiu - a skirt-like garment worn these days by Māori at cultural performances.
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Te Awa o Te Atua