Whakairo

In this course, you’ll get to explore traditional Māori art like kōwhaiwhai (painted patterns), whakarei (decorative designs), and whakairo (carving). You’ll learn about the Māori customs behind carving and pick up hands-on skills to create your own artworks—like carved boxes (pouaka), traditional faces (wheku), weapons (rākau whawhai), and painted panels (kōwhaiwhai). You’ll look at these art forms in both Māori and non-Māori settings. 

Although traditions say females do not carve, whakairo will be open to all students. It will be decided by whānau whether a student can enrol in the whakairo programme.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a deep understanding of Whaikaro and other traditional māori art forms.

• Gain practical skills to create whakairo, whakarei and kōwhaiwhai.

• Recognise the integral role of culture, language, and identity within Whakairo as vehicles for sharing and preserving Māori culture, tikanga, and knowledge systems.

• Develop a strong connection to family, marae, iwi, and hapū.

• Embrace māori art forms as a means of empowerment and self-expression.