Carved Histories: Rotorua Ngati Tarawhai Carving

Covering the Ngati Tarawhai carvers’ distinctive style from pre-European times to the present day, this account presents a vivid analysis of Maori woodcarving. As the most prolific school of their kind in New Zealand, the Ngati Tarawhai have played a critical role in the development and survival of this particular art form. Spanning from the end of the New Zealand wars to the beginning of “tourist art,” this chronicle explores their creations, outlining the relationships between the carvers and their Maori patrons. Biographies of Ngati Tarawhai artists and a list of all known carvings are also included.