Born in 1943, Garry’s great great grandmother Mere Tupara was a daughter of the first Maori king “Potatau Te Wherowhero” in the early 1800’s – the greatest known chief of his time. He was elected first king because he had tribal links to all the canoes and tribes in the land.

Mere was sent by Potatau to her mother’s people and was raised by the chief Tupara. Mere Tupara married John Codlin, a European who founded the township of Waiuku.

Garry is a carpet weaver by trade and was always fascinated by Maori weaving. He studied weaving under renowned weavers such as Rauwha Tamaiparea of Parihaka, Taranaki. Emma Morehu Williams of Ngati Pikiao in Rotorua and Rangimaria Hetet of Te Kuiti, King Country.

Garry has woven over thirty-five cloaks over a span of fifty years.