'When Captain Cook visited Niue in 1774,” says Iata Peautolu, 'he tried to land three times, and three times he failed. It's recorded that these ‘fierce brutal savages' didn't allow him access so he carried on his journey and decided to name the island Savage Island.”

A karakia and taonga puoro by Jo'el Komene, followed by a waiata from award-winning Tauria Mai Tawhiti, and opening welcome and remarks by Nick Eggleston and Iata Peautolu launched Iata's first solo exhibition.

Titled 'A Noble Savage”, the opening launch was held at The Incubator at Tauranga's Historic Village on Friday evening.

'Niue is the island of my father who was born and raised there,” says Iata. 'A simple island, simple lifestyle, living off the land. That's my savage heritage I suppose. Niue means coconut, so my father is a savage coconut I guess and so am I – a savage coconut.”

The combination of Maori and Niuean culture and Iata's own upbringing is reflected in the imagery in his works. He draws on the motifs and symbols of his heritage and surroundings, expressing contemporary Polynesian style.

Studying art at secondary school, Iata went on to pursue an art and design career, eventually steering towards performing arts. He joined Island Breeze, a Polynesian dance troupe in Australia that performed globally, and utilised his artist ability in designing costumes, brochures and websites through to choreographing some of the Polynesian island dances the group performed.

'This chapter in my life was fundamental in the forming of my ideas, beliefs and creativity,” says Iata.

Completing art school in Hawaii, he returned to Island Breeze and then moved back to New Zealand to strengthen family ties and to pursue a career in Maori and Pacific art.

In 2014, his remarkable piece Mana Tu, Mana Toa, Mana Ake Ake was an entrant into the adults division of the Battles of Gate Pa/Te Ranga Art Competition. This year, Iata is the first beneficiary of an emerging artist programme sponsored by the Tauranga City Council Community Match Fund.

His solo exhibition is one of the events organised for Matariki, which celebrates the Maori New Year. Matariki is a special time in the Maori calendar where kai – food – is plentiful, with time spent singing, dancing and feasting.

Each year, the winter stars of Matariki signal the arrival of the Maori New Year, and is a time of new beginnings when karakia – prayers – are offered. It's linked to the growing seasons with the belief that the coming season's crops were planted based on the Matariki star cluster.

The exhibition will run from May 26 to June 15, with The Incubator gallery open 9am-3pm weekdays and on Sunday June 4 from 8am-1pm during the Bethlehem Te Puna Lions Market held at the Tauranga Historic Village.

Christine Walker, John Baxter and Jackie Gray.

Nick Eggleston and Tanya Trass.

Riini McLeod and Angie Warren-Clark.

Frizby Smith and Iata Peautolu.