Dr Roger Neich - Whakairo

Interview with Dr Roger Neich, Head of Ethnology at Auckland War Memorial Museum.

He speaks with Hēnare te Ua about whakairo/Māori wood carving, his field of research of 29 years. He says his interest in carvings began when he was working with the collections in the basements of the old Dominion Museum in Wellington. He worked to catalogue, photograph, and house the carvings there.

He also speaks about waka building, and then about the carving styles, the work, and influence of the Ngāti Tarawhai (Te Arawa) school of carvers. He discusses the influence of early European settlers on the carving style of Ngāti Tarawhai. There is mention of the work of weaver Emily Schuster, and carver Tene Waitere.

Dr Neich's interest in Ngāti Tarawhai work led to the publication of his book "Carved Histories". He speaks about exhibitions of Māori art he has curated in the British Museum in London, and also in Italy.

The interview concludes with Dr Neich commenting on the influence of Ngāti Tarawhai carvers on the art of whakairo. He says that Ngāti Tarawhai carvers were a key element for the survival of Māori carving - helping keep the tradition going through schools, and being involved in the commission of tourist art. The current development and innovation of Māori art owes a debt to what Ngāti Tarawhai was doing at the turn of the century.