Since early 2003, award-winning master carver Dr Lyonel Grant has been passionately and painstakingly crafting a marae that realises the vision of creating a national treasure, an asset that can simply be admired by those who enter its embrace, or be a place of solace for those who need it.

Born in 1957 of Te Arawa and Ngãti Pikiao descent, Dr Lyonel Grant is a graduate of the Mãori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua. In recent years he has combined traditional carving influences with western sculptural materials and techniques.

Major commissions include the Pou Wairua for the foyer of Auckland's Sky City. He was part of the award-winning design team for Tourism New Zealand's 100% Pure New Zealand Ora Garden of Well-being at the 2004 UK Chelsea Flower Show.

Lyonel's two previous wharenui (meeting houses) are lhenga at Tangatarua Marae Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua, and Te Matapihi o te Rangi in Tokoroa. He completed three major commissions for the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand beween 1992 and 1998. Other commissions include three carved waka, one of which, Te Arawa, resides on permanent display at Rotorua's waterfront and was used in the 1990 Commonwealth Games commemoration in San Diego.

A licensed user of toi iho™, the registered trademark for authenticity and quality in Mãori arts. Lyonel regularly exhibits in solo and group exhibitions.Lyonel has not only designed, carved and undertaken historical research for each piece of artwork, but also trained three assistant carvers: Matene Sisnett, Whare Thompson, and Te Ratahi Morehu (and previously Doug King).

Lyonel worked very closely with weavers Judy Hohaia of Te Rarawa and Shona lawhiao of Ngai-te-rangi iwi. They in turn enlisted the expertise. time and commitment from skilled people from within Unitec and the wider community.

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