Mr Tamakehu said he had returned to an earlier interest in carving in recent years, and was also helping troubled youth, and some people trying to adjust to society after imprisonment.
"There’s help out there. They can always ask for help, they need to reach for it," he said.
His gift of carvings to the Te Wai Pounamu (formerly the Dunedin Women’s Refuge) and to a Stopping Violence Dunedin group in a ceremony in the city at 3pm yesterday was intended to help stop domestic violence, and to thank the groups for their work.
Group representatives "really appreciated the gifts ... they need to be recognised like that", he said.
Young people needed to realise using their talents was much more constructive than violently lashing out, he said.
He urged "everyone to communicate properly and to reach out and to love and look after their family and to bring less violence within the family and within relationships".
He was a busy bushman and fisherman, but happy to mentor people, encourage learning basic life skills and carving.
