Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Carving
Traditional Maori carving, with its intricate detailing and curved lines, can transport the
viewer. It's quite amazing to consider that it was done with stone tools, themselves
painstakingly made, until the advent of iron (nails suddenly became very popular).
Some major traditional forms are
waka
(canoes),
pataka
(storage buildings), and
wharenui
(meeting houses). You can see sublime examples of traditional carving at Te
Papa in Wellington, and at the following in the South Island:
»
Maori & Colonial Museum
(
Click here
) A
waka taua
(war canoe) dating back to 1867; Okains Bay, Banks Penin-
sula.
»
Otago Museum
(
Click here
) Nice old
waka
and
whare runanga
(meeting house) carvings; Dunedin.
»
Canterbury Museum
(
Click here
) A magnificent
poutokomanawa
or male ancestor figure, Christchurch.
The apex of carving today is the
whare whakairo
(carved meeting house). A commission-
ing group relates its history and ancestral stories to a carver, who then draws (sometimes
quite loosely) on traditional motifs to interpret or embody the stories and ancestors in
wood or composite fibreboard.
Rongomaraeroa Marae,
by artist Cliff Whiting, at Te Papa in Wellington is a colourful
example of a contemporary re-imagining of a traditional art form. The biggest change in
carving (as with most traditional arts) has been in the use of new mediums and tools.
Rangi Kipa uses a synthetic polymer called Corian to make his
hei tiki
(figure motif worn
around the neck), the same stuff that is used to make kitchen benchtops. You can check
out his gallery at
www.rangikipa.com
.
Maori legends are all around you as you tour NZ: Maui's
waka
became today's Southern Alps; a
taniwha
(au-
pernatural creature)formed Lake Waikaremoana in its death throes; and a rejected Mt Taranaki walked in-
to exile from the central North Island mountain group, carving the Whanganui River.
Weaving
Weaving was an essential art that provided clothing, nets and cordage, footwear for rough
country travel, mats to cover earthen floors, and
kete
(bags). Many woven items are beau-
tiful as well as practical. Some were major works -
korowai
(cloaks) could take years to
finish. Woven predominantly with flax and bird feathers, they are worn now on ceremoni-
al occasions, a stunning sight.
Working with natural materials for the greater good of the people involved getting
things right by maintaining the supply of raw material and ensuring that it worked as it
