The Ko-whai or Painted Rafters and Scroll-Patterns.

No superior Runanga House is complete without the scroll-patterns on the rafters and other parts of it. The Takitimu rafters, battens, heke-tipi (end rafters) and maihi, or barge-boards, are in the approved patterns of ko-whai-whai.

The broad ridge-piece, or tahuhu, is painted with an approved design, which is supported by two centre-posts called Pou-toko-manawa.