An Important Guide To Patterns For Traditional Māori Designs Comes Back Into Print After Many Years
The handy guide provides a detailed exploration of important patterns used in Mori architecture and textiles, focusing on the intricate designs of rafter carving, tniko weaving and tukutuku panels.
In the more than 80 years since Māori Rafter & Tāniko Designs first saw the light of day, the book's clear text and sumptuous colour patterns have served legions of readers and craftspeople.
Now Oratia Books is bringing this classic work by W.J Phillipps back into print, enabling a new generation to access a work that until now had been hard to source. The handy guide provides a detailed exploration of important patterns used in Māori architecture and textiles, focusing on the intricate designs of rafter carving, tāniko weaving and tukutuku panels.
With an all-new layout, updated text elements including macrons, and inclusion of new colour illustrations, the new edition aims to help readers easily access the designs. That supports the aim Phillipps outlined in his introduction, namely 'to analyse Māori rafter patterns and discuss their component parts in such a manner that a clearer understanding and a greater appreciation of them will be the result.'
Māori Rafter & Tāniko Designs goes on sale in June in good bookstores nationwide.
The author
William John (W.J.) Phillipps was born in Oamaru in 1893. In 1915, he joined the staff of the Dominion Museum (now Te Papa Tongarewa), Wellington, where he worked as an ethnologist, ichthyologist, ornithologist and scientific illustrator. During a career that spanned five decades, he published some 200 scientific papers and authored several books in the fields of zoology and anthropology. He passed away in 1967.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Farming native wildlife: Could commercialisation boost conservation efforts?
However, weka are protected and considered a vulnerable species - there are thought to be between 70,000 to 120,000 weka. 'The weka is an interesting species in New Zealand because it's not quite endangered as other native species like the kākāpō or takahē.' He said New Zealand's conservation efforts were at a 'crossroads', with mounting ecological and funding challenges, requiring some number 'From an economic and institutional perspective, commercialisation presents an opportunity for self-sustaining species management through strategic resource redistribution throughout the conservation sector.' In international examples, such as buffalo in parts of Southern Africa and alligators in the United States, Mark said commercialisation had ultimately led to an increase in numbers for those animals. However, commercialisation could also lead to further population decline, like the overfishing of North Atlantic Cod off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Locally, he also drew from the tītī or muttonbird harvest experience; Rakiura Stewart Island whanau and hapū are able to harvest muttonbird between April 1 and May 31 each year. Though they are primarily harvested for cultural or customary purposes, they can also be sold commercially. Mark said it had worked 'quite successfully', noting the importance of any commercialisation aligning with Māori perspectives on the practice and the Treaty of Waitangi. 'It is the most distinctive example of ongoing sustainable native bird harvest in New Zealand.' Mark said that commercialisation offered a way for many different groups in New Zealand to become directly involved in conservation, including Māori, landowners and hunters. It could also allow for both conservation and economic gains, he said. He said a more detailed analysis would need to be worked through before such a policy was enacted. - RNZ
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Could farming native wildlife boost numbers? New research looks at how commercialisation might help
Weka Photo: (Flickr user Sid Mosdell CC BY 2.0) Could farming native wildlife like the weka be the key to helping boost their numbers? That's the focus of a recent research paper by a Victoria University of Wellington graduate who looked at how commercialising native species might help with conservation. Dray Mark said he first got the idea to look into this strategy after reading an old news article about a South Island farmer trying to farm and sell weka. Also known as the Māori or bush hen, there is a history of weka having been eaten in the past. However, weka are protected and considered a vulnerable species - there are thought to be between 70,000 to 120,000 weka. "The weka is an interesting species in New Zealand because it's not quite endangered as other native species like the kākāpō or takahē." He said New Zealand's conservation efforts were at a "crossroads", with mounting ecological and funding challenges, requiring some "outside the box" thinking. "From an economic and institutional perspective, commercialisation presents an opportunity for self-sustaining species management through strategic resource redistribution throughout the conservation sector." In international examples, such as buffalo in parts of Southern Africa and alligators in the United States, Mark said commercialisation had ultimately led to an increase in numbers of those animals. However, commercialisation could also lead to further population decline like the overfishing of North Atlantic Cod off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Locally, he also drew from the tītī or muttonbird harvest experience - Rakiura Stewart Island whanau and hapu are able to harvest muttonbird between 1 April and 31 May each year. Though they are primarily harvested for cultural or customary purposes, they can also be sold commercially. Mark said it had worked "quite successfully", noting the importance of any commercialisation aligning with Māori perspectives on the practice and the Treaty of Waitangi. "It is the most distinctive example of ongoing sustainable native bird harvest in New Zealand." Mark said that commercialisation offered a way for many different groups in New Zealand to become directly involved in conservation, including Māori, landowners and hunters. It could also allow for both conservation and economic gains, he said. He said more detailed analysis would need to be worked through before such a policy was enacted. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
99 Years young: Neil Olsen, the cheeky farmer who stole Zoe's heart
He worked in the Far North gum fields and later married Namaha Hakitara, daughter of Te Rarawa chief Hakitara of Peria – one of the Māori signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. They bought farmland which was later taken over by their grandsons Neil and his brother Sid. Neil went on to marry Zoe and they raised six children on the farm. Neil an avid sportsman, played tennis, golf and rugby. He met Zoe on the tennis courts, he recalled. 'They put us together in mixed doubles. We were a bit cheeky to each other and yeah, from there it got serious.' They later got married and the couple continued playing tennis and golf together, always sharing laughs. Neil and Zoe Olsen's wedding was a joyous occasion attending by many Peria residents. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya Neil remembered the day they got married and said it was quite the affair. 'We got married at our local church, just down the road, and it was quite a big wedding. There were lots of people there. When we walked out the whole community was there, it was beautiful.' While being a year closer to a hundred and being married for 70 years were among his achievements Neil was proud of his golfing career. He scored a hole-in-one in 1994 and is proudly the oldest member of the Whangaroa Golf Club. Zoe said for as long as they have been married, they have always been there for each other. 'My mum has dementia, and my dad looks after her fulltime. That is love, you look after each other,' said one of their daughter's, Ava Herron, who lives nearby in Coopers Beach and checks in regularly on her parents. She said her parents were a great example to them and she was grateful for the life their parents gave them. Zoe Olsen and her daughter Ava Herron going down memory lane. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya 'We were very happy. We all had to work on the farm. It taught us kids to be quite self-sufficient. I think that was the best childhood. They have given us a lot of good values.'' Kaye Dragicevich has known the couple for over 20 years and said they have been long-cherished members of the Peria community. 'They are a much-loved couple who have earned deep respect and affection for generations of locals.' She remembers them fondly from her days working at the National Bank. 'Zoe, always thoughtful and kind, was known for creating beautiful bouquets and small gifts, often giving them to friends and neighbours just to brighten their day. Neil, ever active, remains a keen golfer and is proudly the oldest playing member of the Whangaroa Golf Club. Still driving and enjoying life.' She said Neil and Zoe have led rich and rewarding lives and she was happy to know them. 'As Neil celebrates his 99th birthday, the community of Peria joins in honouring a remarkable life of dedication, family, and quiet achievement. 'Together, Neil and Zoe have an enduring legacy – not only through the land they loved and worked, but through the warmth, kindness, and integrity with which they've touched so many lives. 'Congratulations Neil, Happy Birthday.' The family will be celebrating with a small get-together and has plans of a bigger party when Neil turns 100 next year.
