Matahi Whakataka Brightwell (born Gregory John Brightwell; 22 July 1952) is a New Zealand master carver. He reintroduced the waka ama sport (outrigger canoe racing) in New Zealand.
His notable artworks include a sculpture in cliffside stone of NgÃÂtoro-i-rangi at Mine Bay, Lake Taupà Â, carved from 1976 to 1980, which has been recognised as important to the district and local iwi. In 1985, he built the canoe Hawaikinui-1 in Tahiti, which he and others sailed to New Zealand to reflect MÃÂori migration from Polynesia to New Zealand.
Brightwell was born in 1952 in Masterton, New Zealand. He is of KÃÂti Huirapa, NgÃÂti Toa, Te Roro-o-te-Rangi (NgÃÂti Whakaue), NgÃÂti Tunohopu and Rongowhakaata descent. Brightwell was a pallbearer for James K. Baxter at his funeral in 1972, and participated in the MÃÂori Land March in 1975.
In 1978, Brightwell carved a tipuna whare (ancestral house) for NgÃÂti Toa at Takapà «wÃÂhia as well as an ancestral pouwhenua for the KÃÂti Huirapa hapà « in the South Island. In 1980, he completed a pouwhenua recording the whakapapa of Parekà Âhatu, the mother of Te Rauparaha, installed at Tawatawa Reserve in Wellington. In 2022, Brightwell and his daughter Taupuru Ariki Whakataka Brightwell collaborated on restoring and re-designing this pouwhenua. A tà Âtara sculpture he created in 1998 is held in the art collection at Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum.
In February 2023, Brightwell lost artworks, sculptures, and waka when his Gisborne house was damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle.
From 1976 to 1980, Brightwell worked with a team of four others to carve a sculpture of NgÃÂtoro-i-rangi into the cliffside at Mine Bay, Lake Taupà Â. The sculpture is surrounded by smaller sculptures of tà «puna (ancestors) and kaitiaki (guardians). Brightwell's grandmother, Te Huatahi Susie Gilbert, had requested that he carve a sculpture of NgÃÂtoro-i-rangi, and Brightwell had been unable to find a suitable tà Âtara tree.
The sculpture was initially controversial, with a local councillor complaining that "outsiders should not be cutting into our rock". Brightwell decided to leave the sculpture's eyes blank due to the negative reception.
In November 2016, a blessing took place to recognise the importance of the NgÃÂtoro-i-rangi sculpture to the Taupà  district and local iwi. Brightwell carved a smaller version of the sculpture on tà Âtara, Ngatoroirangi Iti, which was displayed at the Taupà  visitor centre. In 2019, Brightwell sought donations to support the restoration of some of the smaller sculptures as well as carvers who could take over maintenance.
Brightwell has said that he sees waka carving as an artform akin to his sculptural carving. A wooden paddle carved by Brightwell in 1994 is in the collection of the British Museum.
In 1985, Brightwell built the double-hulled canoe Hawaikinui-1 in Tahiti, using wood from tà Âtara trees from Whirinaki Te Pua-a-TÃÂne Conservation Park. To emulate MÃÂori migration from Polynesia to New Zealand, he sailed it to Rarotonga and New Zealand under Tahitian captain Francis Cowan, arriving on 6 January 1986 at à Âkahu Bay, à ÂrÃÂkei, after a three-month voyage. He was awarded the Blue Water Medal, presented by Paul Reeves, for this achievement. The canoe was subsequently displayed at the Musée de Tahiti et des ÃÂles in Tahiti. His time living in Tahiti also led him to encounter the waka ama sport, which he and his wife Raipoia brought back to New Zealand.
Brightwell founded the Mareikura Canoe Club shortly after, and travelled around New Zealand reintroducing waka ama to local MÃÂori. The club has since developed into the nationwide Waka Ama Club organisation with over 80 clubs. For this work, Brightwell was bestowed with the Samoan chief's title of Avauli in 1998, was named MÃÂori Sports Coach of the Year in 2002 and has been inducted into the New Zealand Waka Ama Hall of Fame. In the 2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours, Brightwell was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to waka ama.