Photo: Supplied
One of our last traditional Marae-taught carvers Matahi Brightwell is about to start restoring one of New Zealand's most visited tourist attractions - his own work - the Mine Bay Māori rock carvings on Lake Taupō.
Matahi is to lead a small team to clean and re-sculpt the giant carving of Ngātoroirangi, and the smaller carvings surrounding it.
Matahi started sculpting this work in 1976, taking four years to complete, and receiving a fair amount of local opposition along the way.
The Maori Rock Carvings are seen by thousands of tourists each year.
There is completion here too as Matahi will finally carve eyes for Ngātoroirangi.
