National Carving, Weaving and Pounamu Schools
Ehara i a te rākau te whakaaro, kei ā te Tohunga tārai i te rākau te whakaaro
It is a carver, not the wood that has the understanding
‘If you forget your ancestors, you too are forgotten’
Māori retain links with their tūpuna (ancestors) by passing on their history and traditions through storytelling. These stories aren’t just told orally, they are also told through carving and weaving.
In 1963, some of these traditions were in danger of being lost forever. In response, an Act of Parliament was passed to set up the carving and weaving schools of the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI). Since then, students from across New Zealand have come to Te Puia to study the traditions of their ancestors.
Te Wananga Whakairo (Carving School)
In 1967, the first intake to the carving school began the task of learning the disciplines of their ancestors. Among those students was Clive Fugill, the man who would become master carver of the institute today. ‘I’ll never forget that first day,’ says Clive, ‘our master carver, Hone Taiapa, looked at us all and said “you are here to learn the art to pass it on to generations. Keep it alive for we could lose our identity.”’
‘It was exciting to be playing such an important role to save Māori art,’ says Clive, ‘everyone has a reason in life. This was my reason. And that’s why I’m still here over 40 years later. If we lose our arts and crafts we lose our identity.’
Today fulltime students study for three years at the carving school, under the guidance of those, such as Clive, who were once institute students themselves. Visitors are welcome to visit the school to watch the carvers and ask them about their work.
Te Rito (Weaving School)
At the weaving school, students are taught the skills and traditions of a craft hundreds of years old. ‘I believe weaving can only be learnt the old way, by sitting, by listening, by touching and by doing,’ says head weaver, Edna Pahewa.
As well as learning how to weave harakeke (flax) and other materials, students learn the stories and designs unique to each iwi (tribe), as well as the Māori protocols associated with weaving. These include planting according to the phases of the moon and reciting prayers of thanks for flax and trees used.
Te Rito is named after the baby shoot that sits deep at the heart of the flax. That baby is protected by two outside shoots, the mother and father. Students learn never to touch the inner three shoots when cutting the flax as they are the nucleus – the family unit too precious to be broken. Without these shoots, the flax will lose its identity.
Visitors are welcome to visit the school to watch the weavers and ask them about their work.
Pounamu Training and Development Unit
The Pounamu Development and Training Unit was launched at Te Puia on 5 October, 2009. The Unit is another extension of Te Puia’s commitment to its legislation; the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute Act, 1963. This legislation was put in place (originally in 1926) to maintain, develop and promote the arts, crafts and culture of Māori.
Restoring knowledge
Thanks to the carving and weaving schools at Te Puia, sacred meeting houses across New Zealand have been restored and woven art has been exhibited overseas. But most of all, the ancient teachings of our ancestors have been preserved and continue to thrive.
I give this knowledge freely. I give it to you for nothing. Do the same when your time comes to teach.
