Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Puia. Please check-in 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour departure time.
Poai, also known as Albert is Tumu Whakairo – Te Wānanga Whakairo (lead tutor at the National Carving School). Albert graduated from Te Wānanga Whakairo in 1979, receiving the prestigious Sir Henry Kelliher award and gaining the title Graduate of Honour from the eighth intake. Albert’s workmanship is of very high quality and has allowed him to demonstrate his art within New Zealand and overseas. Albert has represented the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Hawaii, Australia, London, Japan, Noumea and Korea. Albert’s skills can be seen in whare tupuna (meeting houses) including Mataatua Marae (Rotorua), Hoani Waititi Marae (Auckland), Te Aronui-ā-Rua (Rotorua), Moko (Te Puke), Tarawhai Marae (Rotoiti), Matai Whetu (Tauranga) and many more.