Andrew Garratt
Te Ahi Pūpūrangi a Kahumatamomoe
Te Ahi Pūpūrangi is a significant area in Whangārei, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It is often referred to as Te Ahi Pūpūrangi-a-Ihenga, meaning "the place where a Te Arawa Māori ancestor Ihenga and his uncle Kahumatamomoe cooked kauri native snails in a fire". They were travelling from Rotorua to the Kaitaia area to visit a relative and named a number of places as they went through. Another site they named was Ruapekapeka after discovering the cave full of bats there.
Te Ahi Pūpūrangi describes a fire sparking and exploding up into the sky. The fire could be seen clearly by others from as far as the Whangārei Harbour entrance. This location has been a vital hub for Māori travel by waka and later became a thriving port for European settlers.
The sculpture – Te Ahi Pūpūrangi a Kahumatamomoe – is inspired by this history.
If you are interested in purchasing this artwork, please contact the artist directly.