Kowhaiwhai are repeating decorative patterns used in New Zealand on Maori buildings. The National Library of NZ has a number of good examples at https://natlib.govt.nz/photos?text=kowhaiwhai and there's a brief guide to their interpretation at http://www.maori.org.nz/whakairo/default.php?pid=sp55&parent=52
I can't find much analysis of their structure, though, beyond pointing to frieze groups for their symmetries. The part that interests me more is their fractal-like swooping structure, reminiscent of (and in some cases directly modeled on) fern fronds.