Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi 'B' Company 2007

L/Sgt Haane Manahi standing at the poutokomanawa inside the wharetupuna, Tamatekapua at Ohinemutu, Rotorua. His medals are displayed across his tinana. The Victoria Cross (replica) he was denied can just be seen rebated into the rifle butt. The tohunga whakairo was Rakei Kingi. Image captured 18 March, 2007.

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Comments (1)

An honour...

Submitted by Geoff Manahi on Sat, 05/12/2009 - 20:07

Having dad's whakairo standing in Tamatekapua is the direct result of Ngati Whakaue and Te Arawa wishing to bestow what has to be the highest form of acknowledgement that an iwi can offer one of its members. It is a humbling and moving experience to be able to stand again with dad and speak with him and to have his mokos be with him in the house.The carvings adorning his body tell the story of his ascent of Takrouna with his comrades and have other symbolic meanings as well. Both Te Arawa and Ngati Raukawa styles are used to represent his main iwi affiliations.