Māori Carving — Whakairo

Whakairo (carving) is one of the most highly regarded of all Māori art forms. Every carving tells a story: of ancestors, of the tribe, of important events, and of the natural world.

Materials

Traditional Māori carving uses a variety of materials:

Symbolism in Whakairo

The Carving Process

Traditional carving was done using stone tools (adzes, chisels, and knives made from pounamu or basalt). The introduction of metal tools by Europeans revolutionised carving, allowing greater detail and precision. However, the spiritual and cultural protocols: saying appropriate karakia (prayers) and observing tapu: remain important.

The carving of a wharenui (meeting house) is a major undertaking that involves the whole community. It can take years to complete, with many carvers working together under a master carver (tohunga whakairo).

Famous Carved Meeting Houses

Buying Authentic Carvings

When purchasing Māori carvings, look for authenticity markers: genuine pounamu or bone, traditional carving techniques, and provenance from established Māori artists or galleries. Avoid mass-produced souvenirs that may not reflect authentic whakairo traditions.

Whakairo Today: Training and Renaissance

Carving is experiencing a strong renaissance. The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) at Te Puia in Rotorua runs a multi-year carving school whose graduates go on to lead major projects, and many iwi run their own carving programmes to restore and create wharenui, waka and gateways.

A new meeting house is a community undertaking that can take years: the design, the selection of tōtara or other timber, the karakia that accompany the work, and the raising (hīkoi) of the carved house are all ceremonial events that strengthen tribal identity.

Notable Contemporary Carvers

Contemporary carvers such as Lyonel Grant (Te Arawa) have pushed whakairo into new forms — Grant's work at the Auckland War Memorial Museum and his sculptures blend traditional technique with modern expression. Alongside established masters, a new generation of carvers trained at Te Puia and in iwi programmes is producing bold public works across the country.

When buying carvings, provenance matters: authentic whakairo are made by Māori carvers, often with the buyer's whakapapa or story in mind, while generic souvenirs carry no such meaning. Commissioning a piece directly from a carver — many sell through galleries or their own studios — supports the art form and gives you a taonga with a story.

Pounamu: The Greenstone Story

Pounamu (greenstone/jade) comes from Te Waipounamu (the South Island) and has been treasured for centuries for tools, weapons and adornments such as hei tiki. Since 1997, ownership of pounamu in its natural state has been vested in Ngāi Tahu, the principal South Island iwi, which manages access through a permit system and works with licensed carvers.

If you are buying pounamu, look for carvers licensed by Ngāi Tahu or reputable galleries that can confirm the stone's source — authentic pounamu carries cultural and legal significance, and the greenstone trade is tightly regulated.

Symbols to Recognise