Story: Whakairo – Māori carving

Tene Waitere is shown in 1905 shaping the outlines for a whakawae (carved upright for a door or window frame). This piece was one of several commissioned by T. E. Donne, then head of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. It was later acquired by the Linden Museum, Germany. Waitere belonged to the Arawa subtribe of Ngāti Tarāwhai, based at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, who were renowned for their carving skills.