Whakaihuwaka carved for Crankworx

It’s a significant year for Crankworx Rotorua celebrating its 10th anniversary of hosting the global Crankworx World Tour. The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute have been on the journey since the beginning, supporting the event with Māori carvings on its Crankworx event courses, so collaborating in 2024 with a kuwaha (doorway) to the event titled Whakaihuwaka, was extra special.

Whakaihuwaka depicts Crankworx Rotorua competitors as warriors and also acknowledges champions, supporters, volunteers and organisers that bring the event together. Here’s what the elements you can see represent:

• Tekoteko figures – The top three tekoteko figures represent the champions.
• Takarangi spiral pattern – signifies the tracks and slopes competitors ride.
• Tekoteko – hold up each side of the pare and represent male and female competitors of Crankworx.
• The Manaia forms – represent spectators supporting and everyone else who has contributed to Crankworx.

This kuwaha was carved by Tohunga Whakairo (master carver) Albert Poai Te Pou at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) at Te Puia, Rotorua.

Thank you to Air New Zealand for gifting us laminated timber beams from a hangar refurbished in 2020 for use in these pou whakairo rākau (wood carvings).