The story of five carved tōtara panels once hidden in a Taranaki swamp before being stolen and taken to New York, Geneva and London is the subject of a new book launched in New Plymouth last night.
But rather than a conventional history treatise, in Te Motunui Epa author Dr Rachel Buchanan tells the panels' story through the eyes of the taonga itself.
Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was at Puke Ariki for the launch.