PKC Ropu - Te Ranga Carving School:

The primary team responsible for the carving of the Pou Kapūa is Te Ranga Carving School of Kirikiriroa Marae. The school works under the direction of Te Uranga O Te Rā Kingi, Tohunga Whakairo, and associated master carvers, Inia Te Wiata, Tommy Rāwiri, Kingi Tawhiao, Warren McGrath, and Raymond Mihaere. These masters of whakairo collectively have over 200 years experience, and are well known for their creative talents and outstanding expertise in Aotearoa, in the Pacific, throughout indigenous communities, and in many other lands across the globe.

Te Ranga Carving School has been operational for over 30 years, training many competent and creative carvers, and the school continues to be involved in many projects. They are the primary carving team for the Pou Kapūa Project.

Manager and Executive Designer

Wikuki Kingi, QSM (Tainui, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngai Tahu) is the Project Manager and Chief Designer/Carver of Pou Kapūa Creations. A Master Carver of over thirty year’s experience, he has created many taonga in Aotearoa and around the world. He is the son of Te Uranga O Te Rā Kingi, Tohunga Whakairo, and Chief Carver for the Māori Queen Te Arikinui, Dame Te Ata-i-Rangi Kāhu. He is an elite carver of Te Ranga Carving School, the Queens appointed traditional carvers. He is the grandson of Inia Te Wiata, creator of the Pou Ihi that stands in New Zealand House, London.

He and his team of carvers created ‘Tawhaki’, a Pou Ihi standing 64’ high at Hopuhopu Endowment College, Ngaruawahia. This Pou Ihi narrates the creation of the world and the story of Tawhaki, the demi-god responsible for ascending to the heavens and bringing forth the baskets of knowledge to Aotearoa.

Development Strategist/Designer

Tania Haerekiterā Wolfgramm (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Whakatōhea, Ngai Tai, Vava’u, Tonga) is the Strategic Development Manager for Pou Kapūa Creations. A graduate in psychology and sociology [BA (Hons), PGDipSci] she has lectured cultural psychology and the ‘psychology of oppression’ and continues doctoral studies in these areas as they relate to technologies (whakairo as a traditional technology, and computing as a contemporary technology). As concept designer of HAKAMANA the Māori/English Multilingual Computer Keyboard, Tania is able to transfer many of her skills from there to the development, planning and progression of the Pou Kapūa project. She is largely responsible for the strategic and financial planning, funding requirements, systems accountabilities, coordination and administration, information dissemination, and relevant documentation requirements. She is also completing a sculpture of hinuera stone for the Pou Kapūa project.

Kaumātua Team - Tohunga Whakairo

• Te Uranga O Te Rā Kingi (Snr), Tainui, Whānau a Apanui, Ngai Tahu
• Fraser Puroku Tawhai, Whakatōhea, Tuhoe
• Doug Turner, Tainui
• Evelyn Kingi, Tainui, Raukawa
• Tevita Tapu’elu’elu Wolfgramm, Pacific Island Elder (Tonga)

This team is largely responsible for the research and background information of the myths, legends and histories, focusing on nautical migrations that are carved on Pou Kapūa. We have drawn on information from previous projects such as the “Tawhaki – Pou Ihi” and we also actively seek advice from carvers of other Iwi, of other Pacific Nations, and of other Indigenous peoples.

The information for this project continues to be researched. This Kaumātua team will also lead any liaison with other iwi and formal functions with government at both local and national levels.

Pou Kapūa Creations Team

• Te Uranga o Te Rā Kingi (Tohunga Whakairo)
• Fraser Puroku Tawhai (Tikanga Consultant)
• Doug Turner (Kaumatua)
• Evelyn Kingi (Kaumatua)
• Tevita Tapu’elu’elu Wolfgramm (Pacific Islands Elder, Advisor)
• Kingi Tawhiao (Master Carver)
• Ray Mihaere (Master Carver)
• Montgomery Hepi (Designer/Cultural Advisor)
• Team Carvers – Lou, Ara, Pere, Shane, Jug, Haami
• Inia Te Wiata (Master Carver/Artistic Designer)
• Rachel Maunganui Wolfgramm (Organisational Development Consultant)
• Marae Support: Kirikiriroa Marae, Te Puea Marae