Created by
Daniel
Te Kupenga a Whaitiri by dda_toi in Upper Hutt
Te Kupenga a Whaitiri
Whaitiri, the atua of thunder, lived in the overworld with her husband and children. But she was a cannibal, one who consumed the flesh of men.
She heard of a man living in Te Ao Mārama (Earth) named Kaitangata — which means “man-eater” — and came down to marry him. Unfortunately for Whaitiri, Kaitangata didn’t live up to his name and didn’t share her appetite for human flesh.
One day, while Kaitangata was away, Whaitiri spotted two of his cousins fishing nearby. She swam out, killed one with her tao (spear) and the other with her kōripi (basalt knife).
She placed their bodies in her net and dragged them to the shallows, then ordered the village women to bring them ashore.
When Kaitangata returned, he was deeply upset. Whaitiri demanded he perform a karakia to remove the tapu from the dead men so she could eat them. He didn’t know the correct incantation, so Whaitiri attempted it herself. Her effort failed — but she ate the flesh anyway.
In time, this act caused Whaitiri to go blind.
Illustrated traditionally with ink on paper then scanned for digital colours.
Meet the Artist
Meet the Artist
Upper Hutt, New ZealandI’m a visual storyteller and illustrator based in Aotearoa, creating artwork inspired by pūrākau Māori, history, and imaginative world-building grounded in mātauranga Māori.
My work sits somewhere between traditional storytelling and contemporary concept art. I love designing characters, scenes, and moments that feel like they belong to a larger living world — whether that’s illustrating atua and tīpuna stories, developing original fantasy ideas, painting murals, or creating artwork for books, education, or community spaces.
I work mainly in ink illustration with digital colour, as well as acrylic painting and large-scale mural work. A big influence on my style is 90s comic art, and I enjoy combining that bold graphic energy with kaupapa Māori narratives and symbolism.
What inspires me most is bringing stories to life in a way that feels powerful, respectful, and accessible. I’m especially passionate about creating artwork that helps people connect with identity, language, history, and imagination. I also love collaborating with clients to shape their ideas into something meaningful and visually striking.
Whether it’s a commissioned illustration, mural concept, book artwork, or something unique you’ve been thinking about for a while — I enjoy the process of turning ideas into images that carry story and presence.
If you’ve got something in mind, I’d love to hear about it 🙂
More artwork by Daniel
