Tauranga man Des Tatana Kahotea has received a prestigious award for his contribution to Maori culture for his book Te Tu Hanga Whare o Whetu: The Rebuilding of Te Whetu o Te Rangi.
Mr Kahotea was the recipient of the Mahi Toi (arts section) of the 2015 Nga Kupu Ora Maori Book award.
His book documents the rebuilding of the 90-year-old Tauranga meeting house, Te Whetu o Te Rangi Marae, after it was destroyed in a fire in 2006.
After learning of its destruction, Mr Kahotea drove from Kawhia to his marae knowing he wanted help rebuild.
"When I turned up, I was already planning for the replacement ... most people were pretty shattered," he said.