Pūrakau are Māori legends passed down generation to generation from our Tīpuna or ancestors. Come gather in the very same spot our Tīpuna once stood and share in these pūrakau by the warmth of the fire.

Te Kete Tuatahi: He ahikāpura – ‘Kā Puke Māeroero’
The tohu and audio here speak of the Kāi Tahu pūrakau surrounding what is now known as Bayonet Peaks. Early Māori talk of the Māeroero which was believed to inhabit the area. As food sources became scarce, the Māeroero were said to have preyed on the next best thing – Tamariki.

Te Kete Tuarua: He ahikāpuni – ‘Te Makenu’
The audio and Tohu here speak of how Kāi Tahu first travelled into the Whakatipu basin using Ahikā – fires. Early Kāi Tahu often faced treacherous conditions and travel routes through various valleys, around dangerous bluffs and often used Ahi as guidance.

Fire Basket-Kā Puke Māeroero
The tohu design around the fire guard by Tamararo has used the kape Rua to portray the rugged edges of the mountains, and then flipping the design to make Te Awa Māeroero (Lochy River) flowing though the mountains. The middle of the kape Rua design represents the patupaiarehe, the wild men of the woods.