A toki (adze) was used to shape wood before the carving was finished with a mallet and chisels. However, an expert such as Hōri Pukehika (seen here at the 1906 Christchurch Exhibition) of the Whanganui tribe Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi could bring a carving to a near-final stage with the toki alone. When this photo was taken, Pukehika was one of the few remaining carvers expert in the use of the toki. Its use has since been revived and widely taught.
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Alexander Turnbull Library
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