Story: Whakairo – Māori carving

Tene Waitere, 1905

Tene Waitere, 1905

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.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Archives New Zealand: National Publicity Studios Collection
Reference: 1/1-012004-G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Brett Graham, 'Whakairo – Māori carving - Carving materials and techniques', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/43056/tene-waitere-1905 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Brett Graham, published 22 Oct 2014