Matua: Sun through a Rock
Many years ago, my artist friend Whero Te Whata asked me, “how do you see the sun through a rock?” I was young and I had no idea! He didn’t answer me immediately but near the end of my visit to his home, he smiled and laughed lightly, saying “you carve a hole in it of course!”
My friend Haami Moeke Snr QSM was a kaumatua, a respected Maori elder. He passed away recently on Friday, 5 November 2010 so there’s a hole in my heart, though the warm sun of his friendship remains. Matua, it’s too early to really miss you but I know I will. Right now, the sun’s still in my eyes.
Pepeha
Ordinarily, he would introduce himself in his pepeha :: Ko Putauaki te maunga l Ko Ohinemataroa te awa l Ko Mataatua te waka l Ko Toroa te tangata l Ko Ngati Pukeko te iwi l Ko Ngati Hamua te hapu l Ko Te Poroporo te marae kainga
He was born in Whakatane at Poroporo and is of Ngati Pukeko descent. His Ngati Pukeko (geneology) affiliates him to the sub tribe, Ngati Hamua. He’d gone to Poroporo Native School in Whakatane between the years 1945-1954 but didn’t go on to High School. He left home in 1955, travelling light. That’s to say, he had no qualifications and no knowledge of tikanga Maori. He did however, speak te reo ((the language)) fluently.
The Move to Hawke’s Bay
Around 1961 Haami moved to Hawke’s Bay and seven years later, in 1968, he attended a Wananga (a Course that provides education in a Maori cultural context). It related to different aspects of Maoritanga (Maori culture) including woodcarving, weaving and whakapapa. It was here that Haami picked up both technique and carving skills.
On a National level and in 1967 the first carving apprentices were selected from major tribes throughout the country, studying under master carver Hone Te Kauru Taiapa, Ngati Porou (trained in the first intake of students in 1927) and assistant carver Tuti Tukaokao, Ngai Te Rangi. That first intake included Clive Fugill (Ngai Te Rangi) and James Rickard (Ngati Porou, Tainui), present day Master Carvers who are still with Te Puia today.
Major Tohunga Whakairo Influences
His tutor at the time and his first major influence was Riki (short for Matariki) Smith of Nuhaka, a former student of the late Hone Taiapa, aka John, a Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver). The Wananga was a six month long course but mainly in theory and oral learning.
The Course had no practical component but another pupil, Taka Walker offered to help Haami get some experience by asking him to help complete some carving work for Omahu Marae. It took a year and half to complete that job. In 1970, Haami graduated from his Course.
Supervising Carving
By 1977 he’d honed his skills to the point that he was approached to supervise the carving being done at Mihiroa Marae. Mihiroa Marae is located in Pakipaki, Hastings. That project was completed in six months. Then in 1983, opportunity came knocking once again. He was asked to be the Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver) for Kohupatiki Marae where he stayed for the next three years.
During the 1970’s a lot of discussion revolved around what defined a Tohunga Whakairo or ‘Master Carver’. Back then, it was suggested that a carver had to take part in carving two meeting houses or that he was the Principal Carver in charge of other experienced carvers whilst carrying out the required works of those persons commissioning them.
Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver)
Today, the title of Master Carver may be attained through the NZMACI Act (The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act of 1963, originally titled the Rotorua Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act of 1963) whereby “Te Puia, the Maori Cultural Centre has the ability to confer diplomas or give certificates to any person having special training or qualifications in respect of Maori arts, crafts or culture.
The ability to confer diplomas outside of the Government regulatory framework remains a unique attribute of Te Puia’s through to the present day. The principles and values, quality standards, and teaching methodologies established by the master carvers of the past alongside their independent tribal styles continues to be the operating framework for the Institute today.”
Principal Carver
Matua always used to say, “I’d rather stick to being a Principal Carver”, or one who acts in a supervisory capacity. He was a much sought after carver in the Ngati Kahungunu region and on many occasions reflected that it was, “not because he had a piece of paper that said he had the qualifications to be a Master Carver but rather, because of an acknowledgment of his service to the Iwi (Tribe) over a period of 35 plus years.”
But it’s late in the afternoon here now and the sun’s going down. I’ll come again and tell you some more about my friend Matua. “How do you see the sun through a rock? You carve a hole in it of course!” Of course!
