The carving is titled Patu (carved wood patu on stand) and was carved by a carver of Ngā Puhi descent who wishes to remain anonymous. He started carving in 1997 using a Stanley knife and custom wood. His main goal was to carve in wood, in traditional style and in the style of his ancestors. His carving apprenticeship was done in jail, assisted by books on traditional Māori carving and discussions with elders and other people who as he says “helped keep him on track”. He describes his work as contemporary but revolving around traditional carving styles and techniques. The piece is multimedia in wood, harakeke (flax) and paua.
It was gifted to the University by Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki Ki Taumutu (through Te Taumutu Rūnanga) and is named after their eponymous ancestor Moki. Ngāti Moki marae at Taumutu is named after Moki and the marae is also built on the site known as Te Pa o Moki.
The Ngāti Moki Trophy for Māori Leadership is awarded to a person who has shown considerable Māori leadership at Lincoln University and commitment to Māori development either as a student, graduate, staff member or associate of the University. It was first presented in 2008 to Ivy Harper. Ivy is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui and Ngā Puhi descent and was a student representative on the Lincoln University Council. She is also a past staff member of the Centre for Māori and Indigenous Planning and Development at the University.
The Ngāti Moki Trophy is on display in the Nga Kete e Toru collection which is located in Ivey Hall at Lincoln University. The trophy is awarded during the annual Rā Whakamana graduation celebrations. The citations for past recipients are displayed below.