Tene Waitere: A Legacy of Rotorua’s Artistic Soul Tene Waitere (c. 1853–1931) stands as a pivotal figure in Māori art history, embodying the spirit of innovation and cultural preservation during the early 20th century. Born at Mangamuka, New Zealand, he descended from Ani Pape, daughter of Te Rāhui, a leader of Ngāti Tarāwhai, marking him firmly within the whakapapa (genealogy) of this influential iwi. His formative years were shaped by displacement and hardship – captured as a child during Ngāpuhi raids on Rotorua in 1823 – yet he emerged as a masterful carver whose creations continue to re…