New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) opened in 1967 in Rotorua
, New Zealand
due to the impending threat of the loss of traditional Māori arts. In 1926 a Māori Arts and Crafts school had been established in Rotorua by Sir Apirana Ngata
, and the new school continued the tradition in a location well-established for traditional Māori arts and crafts. The location of school at Whakarewarewa
enabled easy access to the lucrative tourist market, which continues to be a substantial source of sales.
, then the Member of Parliament
for Eastern Maori
which included Rotorua
, the school focused on keeping teaching traditional Māori
arts and crafts. The school was located near the geyser field at Whakarewarewa
outside of Rotorua
, an enduring tourist draw-card.
The Rotorua Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act 1963 founded the school as a legal entity, and the act was amended by the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Amendment Act 1967 which changed it from a local to a national institute, by removing most references to Rotorua
. Since the spelling of Maori has changed to Māori as part of an effort to make the Māori language
phonetic.
The Institute generally falls under the tourism portfolio and the Ministry of Economic Development, with the Minister of Tourism or an Associate Minister of Tourism making appointments to the board. Recent appointments have included: Robert McFarlane, Ani Waaka, David Thomas, Sir Howard Morrison, June Grant, Judith Stanway, Ray Watson, Erenora Puketapu-Hetet
, Mike Simm, David Tapsell Ken Raureti, Robyn Bargh and Tupara Morrison.
Since the Māori Renaissance
of the nineteen eighties and nineties, Māori traditions have had more impact on contemporary art
in New Zealand, leading to a blurring of the lines between art and Māori art. The Institute exhibits at events such as Māori Art Market
but it's teaching and output continue to focus on more traditional items.
The Institute was re-branded as Te Puia in 2005 and remains a significant tourist attraction in Rotorua
.
The Carving school, Te Wānanga Whakairo Rakau, was opened in 1967 and has since restored and built over 40 whare whakairo
around New Zealand. The first head of the Carving school was the late renowned Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver), Hone Taiapa
.
The Weaving school named Te Rito was established in 1969, shortly after the Carving school. The head of the school at the time was Emily Schuster, and it is now headed by her daughter, Edna Pahewa.
The combination of the two schools signified the renaissance of whakairo and raranga, many of the alumni of the schools went on to play roles in the Māori renaissance
.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
due to the impending threat of the loss of traditional Māori arts. In 1926 a Māori Arts and Crafts school had been established in Rotorua by Sir Apirana Ngata
Apirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
, and the new school continued the tradition in a location well-established for traditional Māori arts and crafts. The location of school at Whakarewarewa
Whakarewarewa
Whakarewarewa is a geothermal area within Rotorua city in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand...
enabled easy access to the lucrative tourist market, which continues to be a substantial source of sales.
History
Founded in 1926 by Apirana NgataApirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
, then the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Eastern Maori
Eastern Maori
Eastern Maori was one of the four original New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorates, from 1868 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* -Tribal areas:...
which included Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, the school focused on keeping teaching traditional Māori
Māori
The Māori are the native or indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand . They arrived in New Zealand from eastern Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300 CE. Over several centuries in isolation, the Māori developed a unique culture with their own language, a rich mythology,...
arts and crafts. The school was located near the geyser field at Whakarewarewa
Whakarewarewa
Whakarewarewa is a geothermal area within Rotorua city in the Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand...
outside of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, an enduring tourist draw-card.
The Rotorua Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act 1963 founded the school as a legal entity, and the act was amended by the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Amendment Act 1967 which changed it from a local to a national institute, by removing most references to Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
. Since the spelling of Maori has changed to Māori as part of an effort to make the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
phonetic.
The Institute generally falls under the tourism portfolio and the Ministry of Economic Development, with the Minister of Tourism or an Associate Minister of Tourism making appointments to the board. Recent appointments have included: Robert McFarlane, Ani Waaka, David Thomas, Sir Howard Morrison, June Grant, Judith Stanway, Ray Watson, Erenora Puketapu-Hetet
Erenora Puketapu-Hetet
Erenora Puketapu-Hetet was a noted New Zealand weaver and author. She was a key figure in the Māori cultural renaissance and helped lift Māori weaving from a craft to an art. Of Te Atiawa descent, she grew up close to the marae in Waiwhetū near Wellington and moved to Te Kuiti after marrying Rangi...
, Mike Simm, David Tapsell Ken Raureti, Robyn Bargh and Tupara Morrison.
Since the Māori Renaissance
Maori Renaissance
The term Māori Renaissance refers to the revival in fortunes of the Māori of New Zealand in the latter half of the twentieth century. During this period, the perception of Māori went from being that of a dying race to being politically, culturally artistically and artistically ascendant.The...
of the nineteen eighties and nineties, Māori traditions have had more impact on contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
in New Zealand, leading to a blurring of the lines between art and Māori art. The Institute exhibits at events such as Māori Art Market
MAORI ART MARKet
Māori Art Market is biennial event inspired by the Santa Fe Indian Market. The publicly funded event features art exhibitions, art sales, live art demonstrations, such as wood carving and tattooing, as well as presentations and master classes. The focus is on Māori traditional arts and Māori...
but it's teaching and output continue to focus on more traditional items.
The Institute was re-branded as Te Puia in 2005 and remains a significant tourist attraction in Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
.
Carving
A predominant artform of the Māori people is whakairo, carving, referred to by some as the written language of the Māori.The Carving school, Te Wānanga Whakairo Rakau, was opened in 1967 and has since restored and built over 40 whare whakairo
Whare whakairo
A wharenui is a communal house of the Māori people of New Zealand, generally situated as the focal point of a marae. Wharenui are usually called 'meeting houses' in New Zealand English.-Wharenui:...
around New Zealand. The first head of the Carving school was the late renowned Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver), Hone Taiapa
Hone Taiapa
Hone Taiapa, also known as John Taiapa was a Māori wood carver and carpenter of Ngati Porou descent. He was the younger brother of master Māori carver, Pine Taiapa. The two brothers worked closely with politician Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata on reintroducing Māori sculpture to the country after...
.
Weaving
The second artform perpetuated at NZMACI is raranga, weaving.The Weaving school named Te Rito was established in 1969, shortly after the Carving school. The head of the school at the time was Emily Schuster, and it is now headed by her daughter, Edna Pahewa.
The combination of the two schools signified the renaissance of whakairo and raranga, many of the alumni of the schools went on to play roles in the Māori renaissance
Maori Renaissance
The term Māori Renaissance refers to the revival in fortunes of the Māori of New Zealand in the latter half of the twentieth century. During this period, the perception of Māori went from being that of a dying race to being politically, culturally artistically and artistically ascendant.The...
.