Te Kōkako is whanau to the saddleback and Huia. A beautiful songbird that has sadly declined in numbers. Named after their beautiful song, Kōkako is considered sacred by many Māori. In Māori myth, the kōkako filled its wattles with water and brought it to Maui as he fought the sun. Maui rewarded the bird by making its legs long and slender, enabling it to bound through the forest with ease.
Tania Tupu
After retiring from the Tall Ferns Basketball team, Tania Tupu (Ngāti Porou) has been creating jewellery for galleries across Aotearoa. Many of her designs are inspired by traditional Maori and Pacific adornments, particularly by the carvings and panels found in a Wharenui (Meeting House).