Koru Korua Tae - Taiaha, Tewhatewha, Patu, Kotiate, Pouwhenua, Tokotoko, Pukaea, Waka Huia, Papahou, Pouwaka, Maori Carvings, Maori Weapons, Maori Weapon Sets in Case, Authentic, Traditional, Maori Weapons, Custom Made Maori Items, Maori Items Made to Order Tae Eke - Educational Resources, Wooden Puzzles, Taonga Maori/Endemic/Personalised/Other
Koru Korua Tae (custom made Taonga) & Tae Eke Aotearoa (educational resources)

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Charles Matenga BDA 
 Te whanau Matenga, Te Whanau-A-Apanui raua  ko Te Awe Awe, Rangitane/Ngati Raukawa & Ngati Toa. 
 
​Mid 1990's I studied at Te Whare Wananga o Raukawa and gained a degree in Design & Art.
​ I specialize in the traditional art of Maori, it's meaning, whakapapa and history. 
​Phone 027-6969-373​
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Karen Matenga 
Te whanau Te Rata,Taranaki/Te Atiawa raua  ko Hetet, Ngati Maniapoto.

​My background is in administration.  I have been involved in education over the years having established a play group, been on BOT and initiated and ran community events and educational programmes.
Phone 021-1835-536

We offer Custom Made Taonga handcrafted by Charles.
Through Charles' mahi (work), in 2015 we were asked by centres to make them Maori resources.  Our focus for the resources is Taonga Maori and all of what's endemic to us here in Aotearoa/New Zealand, so we all get to know what's in our own "back yard", whether it's our birds, trees, insects, culture, history, legend, landmarks etc, by using photographic images, to truly capture the essence of the subject matter, as through this medium, it's the closest you'll get to the "real thing".   However, it's not only what we think, but also for the centres to tell us what they want, and if we can provide it, we will?  Every resource has an information so they're not just going into the centres as a "picture".  "Authenticity" and "Keeping it Real" is paramount to us.  Charles gave this side of what we do the name "Tae Eke", a subsidiary of Koru Korua Tae.

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I am impressed with the total package.  His work is a testament to his whakapapa and the wairua under which he manipulates the chisel to own what is ours as Maori.  Meets the criteria to retain a taonga tuku iho and market.  Such impressive work helps to authenticate what belongs to us - kia kaha. 

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An awesome & top class person.  Highly recommend to all.  Great communication, excellent and helpful service, awesome goods, top class and excellent packing, fast delivery and top class in every way and a pleasure to deal with.

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Would you please let Charles know that I was honoured to receive it and am so grateful. I was near tears and lost for words.  I hope to see you both when we come down or in the future anyway. Thanks you so much again xxx

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Kia Ora guys, arrived this morning. What an awesome piece of art. Thank you Charles,you have done my tupuna proud. Our whanau are already talking about your workmanship.

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Please pass on my sincere appreciation to Charles. Your professionalism and business ethic is a credit to you both.

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Tena ano koe Karen, beautiful work by Charles a high degree of quality whakairo I am impressed thank you.

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Kia ora Karen, yes the Taiaha arrived today and its for want of more fitting phrase ‘simply awesome!’.  I wish nothing but goodwill and success to both of you.  How could I not after receiving something so precious from both of you. 

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EXAMPLES OF TAONGA MADE

Supporting Schools & Community - Taonga made

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Parkland Kindergarten, Palmerston North

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We LOVE the blocks. We used them for Matariki story telling and whenever a teacher reads a book about a legend or a taniwha story. We talk about ‘taonga’ and how these carved wooden blocks are taonga and what tikanga would be around a treasure….They have been used as calm down time, when we select a taonga that we believe will ‘ground’ a child and give them some mana as they have been chosen to care for this taonga. We are trying to find local legends and local shared stories that we can use them with so the story of the taniwha coming down and forming the Manawatu Gorge. We have had them out with our puzzles that have Marae and pepeha and talked about the stories that have made these pieces of art….
These are just a couple of ways we have used them. We decided not to paint or print with the blocks. We believe they a special and our children understand that a lot of work went into making the carvings.
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Parkland Kindergarten, Palmerston North

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Country Kids Preschool, Pyes Pa, Tauranga

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What an awesome idea, we would love to order the Matariki puzzle. 

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Prickley Hedgehog Preschool Centre, Pukekohe

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It was lovely to meet you face to face.

I love your authentic products and see a real need for them.
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Hope to see you again 😊


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Te Kuiti Community Childcare Centre Inc, "The Cottage"

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Thanks so much for taking the time to speak to us
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Your product is amazing!!
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We are so excited to receive the puzzles 



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Arohanui Kindergarten, Tokoroa

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Thank you, we have received these. 

​They are beautiful, thank you very much,
from the Staff at Arohanui Kindergarten Tokoroa’.
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Eastern Suburb Preschool, Rotorua
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Thanks Karen, we look forward to receiving it, the children are loving the other puzzles.
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Shaken Oak Montessori, Feilding

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Thank you, I'll look forward to receiving the new puzzles.

The children are really enjoying the last ones you sent.

​The teachers are finding that the resources you supply with the puzzles support us in providing more depth and enriching the learning experience of the child.
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Taradale Kindergarten

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Thanks Karen.

We thought your puzzles were outstanding!

Thanks for calling. Wonderful puzzles! 

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Glenshea Kindergarten, Putaruru

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Wanted to let you know we have received the puzzles that you sent and we absolutely love them.

​They are amazing.
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Linton Kindergarten

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Wow this is awesome! So yes please could I order one with the photographic images.
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Learning Adventures, Marenui

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Love the design this is exactly the concepts of Matariki that we want to celebrate at this time.

​Have shared this image with my teachers and they are all  very enthusiastic about it. 

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Pitter Patter, Feilding

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Kia ora Karen,
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Thank you for our recent puzzle  order. 

The puzzles are stunning, the one of Frankie our very own Beaded Dragon is loved by the tamiriki and whanau.

You are amazing with your creative ideas!!
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The new blocks are amazing and the tamiriki really enjoy using them alongside other Maori resources.

​.

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Torbay Kindergarten, Auckland

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Just letting you know that we have received the last two puzzles, thank you so much!

​The kids absolutely love them.

​Our children really enjoy the challenge that the puzzles provide and love the fact that there are different ways to put them together.’


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Wycliffe Nga Tamariki Kindergarten, Napier

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Thank you Puzzles arrived today and they are AMAZING!!!
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Little Sunbeams Central, Hastings

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We have shown your wonderful resources to our management and they are in love with your resources and products.

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Marfell Kindergarten, New Plymouth

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Thank you for your fabulous resources, puzzles are used so often and loved by so many of our tamariki

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Bellmont Kindegarten, Hamilton

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Just to confirm, we have received the puzzles and the tamariki love them!

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Adventure Kindergarten, Porirua

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Hooray the puzzles arrived this morning and the tamariki are loving them.
Thank you very much.

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Grandview Kindergarten, Hamilton

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Our tamariki are really enjoying the beautiful puzzles we purchased from you. Thank you.
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Awatea Kindergarten, Wellington

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The puzzles look fantastic.

​We are so happy with all of them Ka rawe
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Lollipops, New Plymouth

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Thank you so much Karen these are fantastic and the children love them
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New Shoots Childrens' Centre, Tauranga

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Your light table puzzles… fabulous. The kids love it!
 

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Learning Adventures, Waitara

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We have received the beautiful puzzles and I have attached the tamariki engaged in learning through play of our beautiful native birds.

​They are absolutely stunning Whaea and worth the wait. 

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Central Baptist Kindergarten, Wanganui

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Our children and teachers love the puzzles and we’ve used them alot since they arrived, great quality and so good to have real pictures of our native birds to open up conversations about our country and it’s wildlife and how to appreciate it and protect it.

​Clearly you have hit on something that is an awesome concept and achieving what you hoped! The awareness of our native species and opening up korero about these.
 



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Boulcott Kindergarten, Lower Hutt

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    The fabulous puzzels have arrived.

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BestStart, Waikanae

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   We are so looking forward to having these Taonga (wooden blocks) in our centre.  

​                                             Thank you both for the beautiful work you do. 


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BestStart Epsom, Auckland

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What wonderful work you and Charles do.

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Paihia Waitangi Kindergarten

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That's brilliant! I love it! Thanks so much Karen :-)
 
Wow!! We are finally there! It's been great doing 'business' with you Karen. As I said before, I have really appreciated your patience and your ideas and how you have taken our suggestions on board.

​We simply love the puzzles  - especially the custom made ones!
 
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Childspace Preschool, Ngaio, Wellington

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You have such beautiful products and we can't wait to have them in our centre!


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Lollipops, Te Rapa, Hamilton

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My tamariki love the blocks I got off you.

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Mill Street Kindergarten, Marton

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Kia ora Karen
Thank you for the beautiful puzzles, we are rapt with them. ​

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Ngaio Kindergarten, Wellington

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Thanks for the puzzles – they are beautiful.
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
FOR PRESCHOOLS & SCHOOLS

Puzzzles come Single Sided, Double Sided, Image Tray, Matching Tray or Double Sided with an Image Tray - You Choose??

CUSTOM MADE, MADE TO ORDER
- ALL IMAGES

Interacting with Kaka at Nga Manu, Waikanae

Up close and personal with the Giant Weta