A gift for generations to come

A master artist added a unique touch to last week's make-over of Whatuwhiwhi's Haititaimarangai Marae, with the donation of many thousands of dollars' worth of swamp kauri carvings.

Kerry Strongman, from The Arts Factory at Te Hana, said he was moved to donate the five sculptures, which stand up to three metres tall, because he was so impressed by the marae's revitalisation.

The marae was the centre of a huge community effort last week as up to 150 volunteers, backed by Department of Conservation staff, Army trades apprentices, suppliers, sponsors and a Marae DIY, TV crew, rebuilt the dilapidated buildings. People whose whakapapa links them to the marae travelled from as far away as Wellington, Christchurch and Australia to help.

Mr Strongman said the carvings had taken many months of work, but the gift came with no strings attached.

"It has no monetary value to me, it has only aroha," he said, adding that he was filled with admiration for the marae, and honoured to be part of its rebirth.

"What's happening here is a miracle with all these young people coming back. This is the first time I've seen the total re-awakening of a marae," he said.

Many rural communities had declined in the urban drift after World War II, but Maori were now re-establishing those connections.

"We are struggling to hold on to our whenua, but we can only do that if we have a place to stand, to defend our land from. I think it's brilliant our young people are taking up the cudgels and coming home," he added.

The gift comprised three large matau (fish hooks), symbolising abundance, two inlaid with kauri gum and one with three barbs representing body, mind and spirit, or any set of three qualities; a spiral called 'Awhi,' representing the circle of love and family, "all the dynamics of life, from the self to the creator and back;" and a three-metre pouwhenua representing new beginnings.

Mr Strongman was taught to carve as a four-year-old by his grandfather. After working overseas he came home, 15 years ago, to carve kauri from buried forests up to 40,000 years old.

"My koro told me swamp kauri comes from a time of tranquillity and peace, before man was here, before colonisation, before raruraru [argument] pulled people apart," he said.

Mr Strongman's work can be seen around the world, particularly in Holland, the US and the UK, his work for the corporate world allowing him to give carvings away and run an informal carving school.

One of his pou stands outside the Whangarei Library. And next he plans to carve a giant octopus and a whale for Haititaimarangai Marae.