Detail of Kupe and his wife Kūrāmarotini from the statue on the Wellington waterfront. Kupe was a legendary [1] Polynesian explorer who, according to Māori oral history, was the first person to discover New Zealand. [2]

This statue of Kupe, on the Wellington waterfront, shows the legendary explorer with his wife, Hine Te Apārangi, and his tohunga (priest), Pekahourangi. The country’s Māori name, Aotearoa, came when his wife saw a long white cloud and realised that land was nearby.

The piece consists of Kupe Raiatea, the great Maori explorer and discoverer of Wellington harbour, his wife Te Aparangi and tohunga Pekahourangi.

Kuppe statue is interesting with it’s unique look and was unveiled at this spot in March 2000, but has a long history before this date. It consists of Kupe Raiatea, the great Maori explorer and discoverer of Wellington harbour, his wife Te Aparangi and tohunga Pekahourangi.

This Kupe group statue was created in plaster of paris by sculptor William Trethewey, and featured at the 1940 Centennial Exhibition at Rongotai. In 1999 the statue was cast in bronce as a millennium project and unveiled on 4 March 2000 as a tribute to …

Jul 10, 2024 · The story of Kupe and Te Wheke is equally an essential part of Māori narratives and has inspired many works of art, literature and music. There is a striking statue of Kupe and his crew on Wellington’s waterfront. As well as his historical significance, Kupe’s achievements as a navigator are remarkable.

The Polynesian explorer Kupe holds a spear at the prow of his waka (canoe), Mätähoua; his wife, Hineiteäparangi (or Kuramarotini), points to the horizon; and the tohunga (skilled and respected person) Pekahourangi holds a tewhatewha (wooden battleaxe) and sits gazing into the distance.

Click on the place names to see some of the important places associated with the great explorer Kupe. The Ngāti Kurī people believe that Kupe first sighted New Zealand when he mistook Houhora mountain for a whale. Ngāpuhi say that he was guided by Te Aukānapanapa (the flashing current) to ...

These evocative images of important Kupe sites are just a few of the 36 images produced as part of the exhibition Kupe Sites, developed for touring to venues across Aotearoa. Kupe and his stories are of immense importance to the many iwi who trace their whakapapa back through him.

Sculpture by William Trethewey at Wellington Railway Station depicting Kupe, his wife Hine-te-aparangi, and a tohunga, on the canoe Matahourua. Shows the statue after a month's restoration work by sculptor C O Janssen.