Te Kākano: A gift on behalf of the Nation
The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute - Te Puia, is creating this 10 metre (32.8 ft) carving as a gift to China. Once completed, the carving will act as a cultural portal between the two countries. It will be an enduring symbol of cultural respect from the people of New Zealand to the people of China.
World Expo Shanghai, China
This carving will take centre stage in the New Zealand Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai. It will be sea-freighted from New Zealand to China in late February 2010 and completed onsite at the Expo by Te Puia’s carvers. The World Expo will run between 01 May and 31 October 2010, and will be the biggest in world history. 70 million visitors (approximately 40,000 per day) are expected to visit the Expo over the six month period.
The completed carving will be gifted on behalf of the Nation by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, the Hon John Key, to Chinese officials on 9 July 2010.
Cultural Portals: enduring symbols of cultural respect
Cultural portals are founded on cultural connection and values, and operate to memorialise relationships between nations and people. They are tangible thresholds where synergistic elements of culture can be brought together and where relationships and pathways can be affirmed or created. 
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