'I felt grateful and ready for the world' - students graduate with qualifications in carving and weaving
Photo:
Supplied / Te Puia
Nine tauira (students) graduated from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua last week with qualifications in whakairo rākau (wood carving), whakairo pounamu me te wheua (stone and bone carving) and raranga me te whatu (weaving), with an exhibition open at Āhua Gallery to share their taonga.
Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau graduate Kingi Aupouri (Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was one of three who did the wero in the haka pōhiri with a taiaha he carved and tempered. Graduation was special with his whānau over the moon with happiness, he said.
"I loved it, I had a good tangi, they were happy tears, as I felt the moment and reflected on everything that I'd achieved for my whānau and the responsibility ahead with my new journey of carving. It was special to see my nan Emily Schuster's photo on the stage too."
Graduate Kingi Aupouri does the wero with the taiaha he carved and tempered.
Photo:
Supplied / Te Puia
The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) operates on-site at Te Puia in Rotorua and is home to: Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (National Wood Carving School), Te Takapū o Rotowhio (National Stone and Bone Carving School) and Te Rito o Rotowhio (the National Weaving School).
Under the 2020 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Vesting Act, tohunga conferred qualifications are given, with a history going back 99 years since Tā Apirana Ngata set up the original Act of Parliament and wānanga. This allows traditional practices to be taught and passed to a level of excellence.
Te Takapū o Rotowhio graduate Maaka Toi, had his father Gordon Toi (a 12th intake Whakairo Rākau graduate) speaking in the proceedings.
Maaka said graduation made him reflect on his grandparent's generation and how they didn't have these opportunities, so to be able to have studied the arts at NZMACI had been empowering.
"I felt proud, supported, grateful and ready for the world. I felt blessed and stoked for myself, my peers and my family.
"I came to NZMACI aiming for success and the school has given me the tools to be successful - to utilise persistence, patience, perseverance, humility, resilience, respect and longevity to last the test of time."
2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates. L-R: Maaka Toi, Kingi Aupouri, Te Okiwa Morgan, Taj Winika, Hetekia Waimotu, Tawhiri Solomon, Melissa Tamamasui, Anahera Emile, Inanga Andrews.
Photo:
Supplied / Te Puia
Te Rito o Rotowhio graduate Anahera Emile (Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Ngāti Popoto) said graduation was a bit overwhelming and then seeing the Āhua Gallery exhibition felt emotional.
"Seeing all our mahi in the exhibition looking beautiful - you can feel the energy. Everyone here with me said they were proud."
New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute general manager Eraia Kiel said graduation reminds us of why the Institute was established - to perpetuate traditional art forms.
"This is a significant day. I'm so proud of these nine tauira, as they now take on the responsibility of the pōito to keep afloat our kupenga (net) - being our arts, crafts, and culture."
Kingi Aupouri tempering his taiaha over an open flame for four days, seven hours a day.
Photo:
Supplied / Te Puia
The graduate exhibition Tātai Whetū featuring the taonga of graduates is open until 6 July, with some pieces going to the NZMACI collection and others available to buy.
One of the Graduate taonga going into collections is a taiaha by Aupouri. He and Tāwhiri Solomon both tempered a taiaha each in a fire using traditional techniques. They studied the Taonga Māori Collection at Te Papa and carved their taonga inspired by taiaha from the 1800s.
Over four days, for seven hours a day, Aupouri and Solomon tempered their taiaha over open flames of a fire, turning them constantly and letting the flames of the fire lick the rākau (wood) while also working the taiaha with linseed oil, which works as a protectant over the surface of the wood, helping it to not burn.
The tempering made the taiaha stronger and lighter with a unique finish. This was the first time this technique had been done by tauira at NZMACI.
2025 New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Graduates and their whānau in front of Te Aronuia-ā-Rua wharenui at Te Puia.
Photo:
Supplied / Te Puia
Speaking to how it feels to see it in the exhibition, Aupouri said he had asked for it to remain uncovered, so people can touch it and feel it.
"It's not just visual, but an interactive piece as well because of the tempering and traditional aweawe. I want people to be able to feel how dense the timber is, feel the design on the upoko and touch the aweawe.
"Not many are doing this style of aweawe which I saw in the Te Papa Collection, so a big thanks to Te Rito o Rotowhio Tumu Cori Marsters who helped with the materials and method.
"I'd also like to acknowledge Layton Robertson who answered our pātai on the process and methodology to temper taiaha."
The next intake of tauira takes place on 30 June.
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