Hinemoa and Tutanekai return to city centre

Hinemoa and Tutanekai are returned to Manawa. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Hinemoa and Tutanekai tekoteko (carved human form) have been reinstated in Rotorua's central city after being restored by their original carver Albert Te Pou.

Mr Te Pou created both carvings in 1994 and has spent the past 12 months restoring them.

Today they were reinstated in Manawa, the former City Focus, attached to the two columns which have recently been reclad and have had lighting installed as part of a refresh of the area, the Rotorua Lakes Council said on its website.

Te Pou was in his mid 20s and fresh out of training at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute at Te Puia when he first carved Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

The carvings once again take pride of place at the northern entrance of the refurbished inner-city feature.

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As part of the City Focus refresh, that includes the name change to Manawa (heart), the taonga have undergone a restoration process at the hands of Te Pou, bringing them back after 22 years of weathering.

The restoration process included fixes due to natural weathering and treatment of the wood using an oil-based primer and then two coats of burgundy paint, similar to the colour of the carvings in Government Gardens.