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Maori Wood Carving

Early Maori Wood Carving

Early Maori Wood Carving shows stylistic affinities with works from eastern Polynesia, where the ancestors of the Maori originated from. Examples of ancient Maori wood carvings are rare, however a number of them have survived due to the practice of hiding valuable carvings by immersing them in swamps during times of unrest. The waterlogged environment has subsequently managed to preserve the wood of the carvings.

Maori Wood Carving Legends

The art of wood carving was brought to their ancestors by Ruatepupuke according to one Maori legend. According to the legend, Ruatepupuke's son Manuruhi offended Tangaroa, the god of the sea. As punishment, Tangaroa abducted Manuruhi and transformed him into a woodcarving to adorn the gable of his house beneath the sea. Ruatepupuke descended into the sea in search of his son, where he overheard the carved ancestor posts of Tangaroa's house talking to each other. the posts told him where to find Manuruhi. Angered by the mistreatment of his son, Ruatepupuke set fire to Tangaroa's house. He then returned to the human world, brining Manuruhi and several carved posts with him, and introduced the art of wood carving to humanity. The reference to talking carvings in the story evokes the aesthetic standards Maori carvers aspire to in creating their work. A masterful carving is said to "speak" to the viewer, while a lesser example remains silent.

The following translation is from a version of the story recounted by Mohi Ruatapu and Henare Potae of the Ngafti Porou tribe:

This is the story of Ruatepupuke, who first made wood-carving known. The cause of his discovery was the going of his child, Te Manuhauturuki, to sail a boat. The child was captured by Tangaroa, taken to his home, and set up on the gable of his house as an image. When the child was missed, his father set forth to look for him … he went there, and so found the body of his child set up on the roof-gable of the house.

When Rua entered the house the carved posts were talking amongst themselves; he heard the posts talking, but those outside remained silent. He closed up all the interstices of the house … and when the sun had set, Tangaroa and his family arrived and sought repose within their house. There they amused themselves with posture-dancing, hand-clapping contests, cats’ cradle and other games, as is usual when many folk meet together … When day came the interior of the house was still in darkness …

By this time Ruatepupuke had come and taken a position in the porch of the house with his weapon at the ready … He set the house on fire, and the folk inside ran out; the first was Kanae (mullet) … then came Maroro (flying fish) … then came Kokiri (trigger fish) … But most of Tangaroa’s children were destroyed … The carved posts of the outside of the house were taken away; some of those did not talk, and so it is that carved images of the present time do not have the power of speech.

(This legend was taken from: Te Ahukaramu Charles Royal. 'Tangaroa – the sea - Ruatepupuke and the origin of carving', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 2-Mar-09 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/tangaroa-the-sea/4 )

Carving on Maori Meeting Houses

In most parts of the country, the large carved meeting houses were usually named after an important ancestor and was a symbol of that ancestor. At the apex of the gable at the front of the house, a large carved head with no body parts visible is shown, and is known as the koruru or parata. In old houses, it is actually carved on the projecting end of the ridgepole (tahuhu), and the body of the figure can be seen on the ridge pole inside the porch of the house.

Maori Wood Carving Heads

This head is of the Tai Tokerau style.

The distinguishing feature of the Tai Tokerau head carving is the bell shape of the head.

Within Tai Tokerau there are variations of this type of head, representing the different iwi that reside there. However, this head give a good indication of the style that is from that area.

This type of head is from the northern part of the North Island, and is of the type wheku, as distinguished by the lines on either sides of the eyes.

This type of head is the Taranaki Style, on the West Coast of New Zealand, where Mt Taranaki sits.
The distinguishing feature of the Taranaki head carving is the peak on top, representing Mt Taranaki.

This type of head is a koruru, as distinguished by the two big eyes.

This image is of a more generic wheku, as distiguished by the lines on either sides of the eyes.

This is similar to the types of carvings done by the east coast tribes of the north island.

Maori Wood Carving Patterns

Korurangi or Whakarare Used throughout New Zealand (Aotearoa), this pattern is mostly used in carvings to show movement and experience.

Maui From Tai Rawhiti, Te Arawa, and Te Waipounamu, this pattern represents the fish hook of Maui.

Raperape Used throughout New Zealand (Aotearoa), this design is carved to represent movement. It stands for continuity towards our evolving future.

Rauponga From Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu, Te Arawa and the Waikato, this design is used on the body of figures to represent the ribs of the ancestors. The design is from the leaf of the fern.

Rauru From Tai Rawhiti, Ngati Tuwharetoa, the Waikato, and Tai Hauraki, this is the most common form of pattern and is also common in Uhi Moko, used on buttocks.

Unahi or Unaunahi From Tai Tokerau, this pattern represents fish scales, and is mainly done in the Tai Tokerau area, where it is used to represent abundance of food, and wealth of the sea and people.

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