Rock painting artist creates pieces of home from the Waiapu

Pakanga Te Whitu (Senior) is the ringatoi behind Waiapu Stones, a collection of hand painted stones that captures iconic scenes from home, making his stones truly unique treasures that are highly sought after. Pakanga shared with Nati Link about where his creativity comes from and why he finds rock painting peaceful mahi.

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KO WAI KOE? NOHEA KOE? 

Ko Pakanga Te Whitu ahau no Whakatekateka, Rangitukia. 

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HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO MAHI TOI? 

When I was a little kid. Whatever I saw I drew it. I would draw anything that caught my eye. And I had no paper. I drew it on the wall of my house, with just a pencil. As soon as I grabbed a pencil, I started doing art and from then on it grew into paint, colours, brushes and all sorts. I like doing art. I don’t really have an arts background, I’m self taught. My tamariki do art, music, kapa haka. My son, Pakanga aka Junior or Black, is a gifted composer and a performer from the group, East Coast Breevas.

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WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ROCKS FROM?

From Rangitukia Beach, all my rocks are there. When I collect them I do a karakia. A lot of my rocks have gone overseas. When something from your place goes there I make sure they’re safe. When I know they are from Rangitukia I bless them.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PAINT ONE ROCK?

It all depends on the details and size of the rock. Paint is just paint, but once you get into the details it can take one day or three days. Then you need to varnish them, so while some are drying I can work on painting more. I like to paint our Ngati Porou whenua and landscapes, our Ngati Porou marae and whare karakia, and our Ngati Porou rugby teams.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO SELLING YOUR ART?

Back in the 70s we had an art club in Tikitiki. There was about four of us and we all worked together. I did arts, some did kete others did other things. We pulled all our art work together and that’s how we were selling our art, especially to tourists. Whatever that person had they would send them to me or what I never had I’d send that person over there. That’s how we worked selling our products. Back then and even now, locals are our buyers.

The thing with art is, especially in my case, you have got to have patience, it’s good being on your own. It’s good for concentration and I like that. But when there’s too much things around you and you can’t concentrate, I won’t do any painting. Right now it’s nice and peaceful, I like it like that. If I can go all day, I can do more rocks. Painting is good, I like painting.

HOW CAN WE BUY YOUR MAHI TOI?

 My daughter Ruatapu has set up a page on Facebook. People see a lot of my work and they buy some from Facebook. Some people come to see me to order a rock. Some people ask me to take them into the shops. There was a shop in Gisborne, one in Ruatoria. Chris Haenga has asked for some rocks for his shop Hikurangi General Store, one in Whakatane

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WE HEARD YOU’RE ALSO A MAARA KAI EXPERT AND YOU MAKE THE BEST KANGA KOPIRO. TENA KORERO MAI?

I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I learnt by watching these old people doing the kai. I’ve seen them doing kaanga kopiro, kaanga waru. I was taught by those old people.

For enquiries or orders: Waiapu Stones can be contacted through Facebook: 

» Waiapu Stones

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