About the school
Background
Since its first beginnings, the Carving School has focussed its teaching on the development of a diverse range of traditional taonga Māori and in the styles of our most prominent carving traditions.
Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (Carving School) has been in operation as part of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute since the 16 January 1967, but it was initially established after legislation to preserve Māori arts and crafts was passed in 1926, under the auspices of Sir Apirana Ngata, MP for Eastern Māori. Ngata identified art and craft with the supporting knowledge and disciplines as the pillars of Māori tribal culture. His dream was to establish centres of learning to maintain these customs under Māori tuition, and for Māori to retain their traditional cultural integrity through indigenous property rights and customary practices.
First intake
In January 1927 a newly appointed Māori Arts and Crafts Board decided that the carving school should be in Rotorua. Director Harold Hamilton engaged Eramiha Kapua and Tene Waitere, two of the finest carvers of Te Arawa people, to tutor.
Trainees were sent from Tairāwhiti (Hone Taiapa and Pine Taiapa) and Waikato (Waka Kereama and Piri Poutapu) as the first intake of students. The students completed three years of training and were subsequently split into teams that travelled throughout the country carving wharenui (meeting houses). Many of the prominent houses, from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island were initiated through this scheme.
End of an era
The school flourished until 1937 when things came to an abrupt end with the death of Harold Hamilton, and the school was closed. Twenty-five years passed before further effort was made to support the promotion of Māori arts and crafts.
National centre
In June 1962 the Tourist and Publicity Department decided to upgrade the complete reserve area of Te Whakarewarewa which included the major thermal valley as well as the ‘model pā’ Rotowhio. It was proposed that the Arts and Crafts Centre should be built at Rotowhio. The two concepts (MACI and Model Pā) came together, and the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute was born. In 1967, in order to make it a national centre for Māori culture, the legislation was amended and it became known as the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI).
Promoting culture
The functions of the Institute were broad. It was to preserve what was left of the remarkable attainments of Māori, and to promote all aspects of the culture. Services of recognised experts in carving, weaving and other skills were to be utilised so that their skills and disciplines could be passed on to suitable young people selected from various Māori tribes throughout New Zealand.
First apprentices
In 1967 the first seven carving apprentices were selected from major tribes throughout the country and chosen to study under the master carver John Taiapa (Ngāti Porou) – who trained in the first intake of students in 1927 – and assistant carver Tuti Tukaokao (Ngāi Te Rangi). The first intake included Clive Fugill (Ngāi Te Rangi) and James Rickard (Ngāti Porou, Tainui), present day Master Carvers who are still with Te Puia today.
Unique diploma
Through the NZMACI Act Te Puia has the ability to confer diplomas on or give certificates to any person having special training or qualifications in respect of Māori arts, crafts or culture. The ability to confer diplomas outside of the Government regulatory framework remains a unique attribute of Te Puia’s through to present day.
The principles and values, quality standards, and teaching methodologies established by the master carvers of the past – alongside their independent tribal styles – continues to be the operating framework for the Institute today.
