About us

Makarena Te Moanapapaku Stephens


Name	Makarena Te Moanapapaku Stephens
Iwi	Ngāti Rereahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tuwharetoa
School	Te Wharekura o Maniapoto
Year	13
Title	Ngā Tamariki o Tāne Mahuta
Media	Digital art created on iPad
Statement	Ko te kaupapa o taku mahi, ko ngā tamariki a Tāne Māhuta. I’ve created these three images using the iPad with Nga Tamariki a Tāne as my inspiration. I have chosen the pūrerehua (butterfly), kapowai (dragonfly), and the katipō spider as my main focus of my designs because they all have a connection to Maniapoto pūrākau. I’ve used kōwhaiwhai and mandala patterns to represent the mauri or spirit of these insects. The pūrerehua used to follow me as a child all around my tūrangawaewae of Oparure. The kapowai represents my tupuna Te Ihingarangi as he was said to be like a dragonfly how he would travel from one place to the next. I’ve used the katipō spider because in Ngāti Maniapoto my tupuna Maniapoto would use its venom at the end of his weapons.