'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.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Department of Conservation cutting 71 roles to modernise the government agency
File photo. Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro The Department of Conservation is cutting 71 roles in an effort it says to modernise the government agency. The announcement was a result of a change process released in May which originally pitched axing 84 jobs. The agency would disestablish 143 administrative and assistant roles and create 72 new ones which would result in a net loss of 71 jobs. Of the new jobs 25 would be part time. DOC's deputy director-general of organisation support, Mike Tully said the decisions weren't made lightly but are needed to modernise and operate sustainably. "This review is about making DOC work better. DOC needs to change the way we work to make everyday tasks easier, balancing our needs with the various challenges we face." Tully said the changes were part of an organisation-wide shift towards self-service, taking advantage of new technology and improved systems and processes being introduced at DOC this year. "The new systems will be more efficient and easier to use, which means more time spent on conservation and less on admin." PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said that the removal of staff that monitored radios posed health and safety risks. "The current support staff have sizeable health and safety responsibilities, such as monitoring staff radio systems and helping to manage emergencies like fires. "The loss of these team members will mean that these important duties will fall on others - and pose a significant health and safety risk." Fitzsimons said that making 25 roles part time would be a blow workers who cannot make ends meet on a part time salary, and who in small towns would struggle to find other work. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Two Muriwai kororā rescued from nesting box buried by mud slip
One of the kororā which was rescued after its nesting box was completely buried by a mud slip. Photo: Muriwai Environmental Trust Two kororā whose nesting box was buried by a mud slip at Auckland's Muriwai have been rescued, cared for and relocated to a safer site. In a social media post, the Muriwai Environmental Trust said its penguin team discovered the nesting box which had been completely buried by mud over the weekend. Only a small beak was visible, but thanks to quick action both little blue penguins were found alive, it said. The kororā were gently cleaned and relocated to a safer site. Photo: Muriwai Environmental Trust The pair were checked and gently cleaned before being located to a safer site with new housing so they could continue their breeding season, it said. The trust said the volunteers were trained to handle situations such as this but anyone who came across a penguin in distress should contact the Muriwai rangers or call 0800 DOC HOT, rather than trying to intervene directly. It was the penguin's breeding season and people in the Muriwai area should keep their dogs north of the Surf Tower, it said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
How the Rural Mama Collective is helping unite mothers
The Meke Academy in Napier provides an alternative education to rangatahi who have stopped attending school. Levi Armstrong, the man running the Academy, says students who used to attend traditional school once or twice a term are turning up to Meke daily. He talks to Jesse. Photo: Levi Armstrong