New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute


The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute opened in 1963 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 Āpirana 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.

The Institute

History

Founded in 1926 by Āpirana Ngata, 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 1980s and 1990s, 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 its teaching and output continue to focus on more traditional items.
The Institute operates Te Puia a significant tourist attraction in Rotorua.

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 around New Zealand. The first head of the Carving school was the late renowned Tohunga Whakairo, Hone Taiapa.

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.