Te Whare Pūrākau – Resource Hub
This is a living archive where I gather and share the knowledge that inspires my art. Here you’ll find reference material drawn from pūrākau, research, and wānanga — resources for anyone who wants to learn, create, or reconnect with our traditions. From atua and iwi atua lists, to kākahu variations, weapon and tool galleries, and papakāinga/whare references, this space is designed to be both educational and inspiring. My goal is to make these taonga accessible, so that writers, artists, teachers, and rangatahi alike can use them as stepping stones for their own journeys of storytelling and creativity.

Four sketches of rural and village scenes, including houses with fences, trees, and a group of people outside a building, with a top view or layout of an area labeled 'Pa Birds cae'.
A pencil sketch of a rural scene with small wooden houses, trees, and a dirt path in the foreground.
Two black-and-white sketches; the left sketch depicts a traditional Maori hut with a man sitting outside, labeled 'Te Rangi Tahau Waiwahili - TAPO 1875'; the right sketch shows a man kneeling and rubbing a Maori mat with a woman standing nearby, set
A black and white sketch of a family standing in front of a thatched hut with a man leaning against the hut wall, set in a rural landscape.
Two sketches of a rural village with houses and trees, one more detailed and shaded, the other more basic and line-drawn.
A black and white sketch of a village called Parihaka, with houses and people, set against a mountain in the background, dated 1870-1880.
Four black-and-white sketches depicting traditional scenes from rural Korea. The first sketch shows a person sitting near a simple hut with hills in the background, labeled 'Kimara P. T., ca 1945.' The second sketch illustrates a rustic storage pit w
Sketch of a three-story building with a balcony on top, surrounded by trees and a sidewalk, drawn in blue ink.
Black and white sketch of a rural village with several buildings, people, and animals, likely a historical scene.
Sketch of tribal costume designs featuring layered leather, woven fabric, and fur, with notes on color and texture details.
Illustration of two characters labeled as 'Chapter 1 - Kaakahu'. The character on the left, 'Ue - Fisherman', is a muscular man with dark hair tied back, a beard, and green facial markings. He is shirtless, wearing a skirt with a sash, and a green ne
Sketches of various Taiao character designs, depicting muscular or large humanoid figures with long hair, some holding weapons like axes and spears, in different poses and clothing styles, with a banner at the bottom reading 'Taiao character design'
Three muscular tribal warriors with dark face paint, tribal clothing, and accessories, standing in front of a minimalist background with a horizontal green stripe.
Concept sketches of five muscular tribal warriors with beards and long hair, holding weapons such as a club, axe, spear, and a wooden paddle, dressed in primitive clothing, illustration by Dan Taua.
Illustration of sixteen characters with diverse hairstyles and facial expressions. The characters are categorized by hairstyle types, including slick, short, long, bald, and others.
Sketches of traditional Polynesian canoes and huts with notes. Top row shows small hut, slide hall, Fish dryer, and Maori configuration canoe. Middle row depicts the Hiki Houta canoe, with detailed parts labeled, and a small shelter or hut. Bottom ro
Sketch of a traditional Maori-style sailing canoe with tall sails and curved sides, labeled 'Hut 3' at the top and 'Maori Style Sails' at the bottom right.
Study sketches of Tlingit totem poles featuring detailed carvings of animal faces, including eagle, wolf, bear, and owl, in shades of gray.
Sketches and illustrations of various Māori fishing canoes, including small and large fishing canoes, with labels. Includes depictions of fishing activities, projecting head of a figurehead, and a carved figurehead, alongside notes about the studies.
Illustration of three indigenous men with traditional attire and accessories, standing side by side.