Rongomai-Tawhiti Parata-Taiapa from Karitāne near Dunedin, is one of four students to graduate from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute’s (NZMACI) Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau (National Wood Carving School) in Rotorua recently.

Rongomai-Tawhiti is the grandson of well-known wood carver, Hone Te Kauru Taiapa (also known as John Taiapa) who, along with his older brother and master carver Pine Taiapa, worked closely with politician, Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata to reintroduce Māori sculpture to New Zealand after World War II. Hone was also head of the NZMACI Carving School when it opened in 1967. Rongomai-Tawhiti (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou), is carrying on the legacy of his whānau and honouring his koro and pāpā, who recently passed away. [Read more…]