Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
6 minutes ago
EIT CEO Lucy Laitinen unveils the newly named “te ahi kōmau a Māui”, the fire within poupou with Maraeunui Learning Centre ākonga and kaimahi.
Carvings unveiled at EIT’s Wairoa and Maraenui Learning Centres tell two stories of Māui, and add two more links to a series connecting the institute’s campuses across the North Island.
Within a day of each other, new carvings were unveiled at EIT’s Wairoa Learning Centre and the Maraenui Learning Centre – the latest in a series being installed across the institute’s campuses and regional learning centres.
The series is called te aho a Māui, Māui’s fishing line. Every poupou radiates out from the waka maumahara at the Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale, which acts as the pūtahi, or centre. Māui was chosen as a common ancestor for both Māori and Pasifika, and his line stands for a line of thought: a destination, and an arrival. Each carving carries eight pāua shell eyes, one for every EIT campus and learning centre across the North Island.
The Wairoa poupou carved wall panel telling the story of Māui and his tupuna Murirangawhenua
Behind both is carver Emanuel Dunn, a Bachelor of Creative Practice graduate of EIT’s IDEAschool, so there’s Western art training in the work. He’s also immersed in te ao Māori and applies his whare wānanga knowledge to what he makes, having learned under elder carvers. One of those tohunga was the late Taka Walker, whose carvings Dunn has used as templates through the series in acknowledgement of his passing.
He works in tribal styles rather than a single house style – Ngāti Kahungunu forms run through the Hawke’s Bay carvings, while his own whakapapa to the north let him carve the Auckland poupou in Ngāpuhi style. Dunn was supported by co-carver and EIT IDEAschool Senior Lecturer of Art and Design, Chris Bryant- Toi.
Each carving tells a different pūrākau. The Wairoa poupou tells the story of Māui and his tupuna Murirangawhenua. The Maraenui poupou depicts the tricks Māui played on Mahuika, keeper of fire.
The unveilings differed too. Rain fell on Wairoa, a fitting welcome for a carving tied to Māui’s fishing line. EIT Professor and Kaumātua Dr Joseph Te Rito spoke and conducted the karakia, and Pauline Tangiora, a respected Ngāti Rongomaiwahine elder, nurse, peace advocate, environmentalist and human rights leader, and Honorary Councillor of the World Future Council, was among those who attended.
(Left to right) EIT CEO Lucy Laitinen, EIT Senior Lecturer Art and Design, Chris Bryant-Toi, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine elder Pauline Tangiora, EIT Wairoa Regional Learning Centre Co-odinator, Maraea Wesche, EIT Professor and Kaumātua, Dr. Joseph Te Rito and Pareputputi Nuku Pouarataki, Te Ūranga Waka, EIT.
“It was an honour to conduct the karakia for the beautiful whakairo especially carved for the Wairoa centre, the occasion attests to the importance of Wairoa to EIT and to the educational needs of its community.” – Dr. Joseph Te Rito – EIT Professor and Kaumātua
At Maraenui, Tīwana Aranui welcomed everyone with a whaikōrero, karakia was conducted by Mana Hazel (tohunga for EIT)and Kuia Hiria Tumoana travelled from Māhia for the occasion. At Aranui’s suggestion, kaimahi, ākonga and community members had earlier come together in a wānanga to name the carving. It was blessed as “te ahi kōmau a Māui”, the fire within.
EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen, members of the executive team, lecturers and ākonga attended both unveilings.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/02/two-poupou-one-fishing-line/