Mike's journey into Whakairo (Māori wood carving) has offered a unique opportunity to immerse himself in the beauty and traditions of Māori culture and the sacred art form of Whakairo.
In 2024, Mike enrolled and completed a course on the Maori and Indigenous Arts program: Kāwai Raupapa: Whakairo (Level 4) at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Te Awamutu, New Zealand.
Mike remarked," I enjoyed learning and studying with other tauira (students) in and around the Whakairo space and the processes of carving.
His kaiako (tutor) was amazing and his teaching style was easy to follow, it left Mike wanting more.
Therefore, after a year's break, Mike has decided to enrol on the next course: Toi Paemātua: Whakairo (Level 5) 2026, which will allow Mike to gain a Diploma in this Toi (art) strand of Whakairo.
Mike is very grateful for what he has achieved thus far, and gives thanks to his wife, whānau (family) and friends.
However upon closing, Mike has displayed a sense of connection he's just seen, through a post on FB, from
@ KAPUTĪ.REFLECTIONS... as follows:
Kei konei au - (I am here).
I am everything my tīpuna dreamed I would be.
I stand in their strength, and move forward in mine.
This image showcases my interpretations of my Tūpuna/Tīpuna: Taonui Hikaka; a Great Chief of the Iwi (tribe), Ngāti Maniapoto, in the form of a Wheku (type of mask).
History and Significance
Whakairo (Māori wood carving), is an ancient art form that holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Māori people. Each carving tells a story and conveys important messages about the history, values, and beliefs of Māori communities.
Here in this image, I have carved another Tūpuna of mine: Rewi Maniapoto II, 2024.
In this mahi toi (project), you can see, I have used Perspex as an added medium to complement my poupou (wall carving).
My Cousin's Patu for his 60th Birthday, 2025
Techniques and Materials
Māori carvings are meticulously crafted using traditional tools and techniques passed down through the generations.
Now days, still using: wood, bone, and stone, Māori also use contemporary paints and dyes, etc.
What a blessing the evolution of this ancient toi strand has for Māori and the world.
Image courtesy of Goggle, 2025.
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