Whakairo

The roots of Whakairo Raakau (Maori wood carving) go back in time to the arrival of our ancestors in Aotearoa (New Zealand), at the end of their exploration and settlement of Polynesia. The abundance of trees in New Zealand became a prime resource for the construction and development of houses, canoes, tools and implements. Through time the Maori ancestors developed their Polynesian decorative cultures into a distinctive curvilinear style.

The slow growing properties and tight grains of ancient tree giants such as Totara and Kauri allowed the Maori Ancestors to embellish functional items with intricate surface designs and images of important ancestors, myths and historical events. These images aided successive generations to recall stories and traditions of significance.
Gradually the decoration and the function of carved wooden items combined into a unique Maori form.