maori wood carving

Travelling in New Zealand a year or so ago I visited Rotarua and the National Carving School (Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau) which is located in Te Puia. The Institute carries on the cultural tradition by teaching wood carving to young Maori men. Apparently there are places in NZ where women carve, but around Roturua it was a man's domain and remains so. Perhaps this is similar to the cultural rule I have often heard around women not making or playing didgeredoos in Australia. The young Maori woman tour guide talked about respecting historical tradition by women not carving, but I did find myself questioning why culture could not evolve in this place to open up carving tuition to young Maori women. 

The carvings......on the day I visited the group of students were working on long brown pine (totara) relief panels and these large poles that would end up in a wharenui (meeting house) somewhere. The teacher was laughing about how late they were in completing this job, but seemed to be easy with this being so. They carve mainly in brown pine, but also have kauri pine as an option. You can buy carved works in the shop within Te Puia, I really liked the traditional musical instruments, one being a nose flute! This big carved fulla is one of six that greets you at the entrance to Te Puia, pretty fiercesome dudes.