The return to New Zealand of an indigenous carver from British Columbia means a totem pole outside Te Pataka Museum in Porirua will be blessed on Wednesday by kaumatua from Ngati Toa Rangatira.
Tamahou Temara from Toi Maori says Dempsey Bob and his son David Bob carved it in three days from New Zealand-grown redwood at last year's Maori Art Market at the Te Rauparaha Arena.
He told Waatea News that exchanges between First Nation carvers in Canada and Maori tohunga whakairo have been valuable for both groups.
