TOTAEA RENDELL – MAORI ART DESIGN AND CULTURE

Tui, Kereru, Pukeko and Piwakawaka. Our four, newly renovated double rooms all display artwork from artist Totaea Rendell.

Whilst checking out the market stands in front of Whitianga’s Scallop Festival, we came across a stand selling clothing and art prints. The pared back, Maori influenced bird prints immediately caught our attention and we purchased, without hesitation, three prints from the artist himself, Totaea Rendell. Totaea is an artist/designer living in Papamoa Beach in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Born in Auckland, raised in Wellington and educated at the Auckland Institute of Technology, Totaea has worked in the field of visual arts for over two decades between Aotearoa and the U.S.A. Totaea brings a style that is characterised by bold, strong, clean lines. Constantly exploring New Zealand and Maori cultural themes, Totaea has developed a thoughtful, highly creative, contemporary and at times humorous range of products that speak to our unique “Kiwi-ness”. Totaea is of Maori (Ngati Maru), Cook Island Maori, and English descent and enjoys bringing all of his passions; Art, Design, Culture and Travel together into his creative process.

Wairua’s rooms are named after birds which you will see or hear on or around the property and we now have four bird prints which complement the design of our double rooms – the Tui, Kereru, Pukeko and Piwakawaka. If you would like to find out more about Totaea’s work, please visit his website www.totaea.co.nz