A master artist has donated many thousands of dollars' worth of swamp kauri carvings to a Far North marae.
Kerry Strongman, of The Arts Factory in Te Hana, said he was moved to donate the sculptures, which stand up to 3m tall, because he was so impressed by the marae's revitalisation.
During the past week Haititai Marangai Marae has been the centre of a huge community effort as up to 150 volunteers backed by Department of Conservation staff, army trades apprentices, suppliers, sponsors and a Marae DIY TV crew rebuilt what had been a cluster of dilapidated buildings.
People whose whakapapa links them to the marae at Whatuwhiwhi, on the Karikari Peninsula, came from as far away as Australia, Christchurch and Wellington to help.
Mr Strongman said the carvings had taken many months of work but the gift came with no strings attached.