Public Sculptures

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Karanga

KARANGA MAKES A STRONG IMPRESSION OUTSIDE PUKE ARIKI

Artist: Designed by Filipe Tohi, constructed by Filipe Tohi, Maurice Whitehead and members of the Rangimarie Maori Arts and Crafts Society

On the marae atea outside Puke Ariki's North Wing, St Aubyn Street, New Plymouth.

On 9 November 1991 this rock carving, named Karanga ("Call"), was unveiled on one corner of Puke Ariki Landing, adjacent to Richmond Cottage on Ariki Street. It was crafted by Maurice Whitehead and Filipe Tohi as member of the Rangimarie Maori Arts and Crafts Society during the first Taranaki Festival of the Arts, and gifted to the people of New Plymouth as part of the city's 150th celebration of European settlement.

This stone carving is of a woman who is calling a welcome to people, and was carved from a boulder taken from the Waiwhakaiho River.

In 2003 the carving was moved across the road to the entrance of Puke Ariki's South Wing, to make room for a ramp to the entrance of Puke Ariki's new North Wing.

Karanga is aligned with Tukotahi so that the two carvings can look at each other.

The carving was moved to the marae atea outside Puke Ariki's North Wing in 2011.