Te Matau o MauiThe Fish Hook of Maui

1997

Tuti Tukaokao

Accessible

Type

  • Sculpture

Medium

  • Stone

Dimensions

  • H2270 x W1210mm

Tuti Tukaokao (Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa), ‘Te Matau o Maui | The Fish Hook of Maui’ (1997), Cnr Amohau and Fenton Streets, CBD, Rotorua

Images: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022

1997–Current

Outside McDonald's, cnr Amohau and Fenton Streets, CBD, Rotorua

Artists
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

Stone carving of Maui's hook, raised on rocky plinth with shells.

A plaque installed with the work reads:

“THE FISH HOOK OF MAUI / SYMBOLICALLY MAUI FISHED UP THE NORTH ISLAND
SCULPTURED BY / TUTI TUKAOKAO IN THE YEAR 1997

TE MATAU O MAUI / NA MAUI I HII AKE TE MOUTERE E KIIA NEI KO
“TE IKA A MAUI” / I WHAKAROTIA E TUTI TUKAOKAO

This piece completed the significant series of commissions undertaken by Tuti Tukaokao for McDonald's Rotorua, begining in 1981. Tukaokao created a total of 3 pou, 5 murals, 7 kōwhaiwahi panels and other internal carvings, and lastly this external sculpture in 1997.