Story: Whakairo – Māori carving

Pacific carvings and tools

This composite engraving reproduces drawings made by several artists during the Pacific voyages of English explorer James Cook. Pictured are examples of carving from Tonga, Tahiti and Niue, as well as New Zealand. At lower left are Tahitian tattooing tools. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-384-065

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Brett Graham, 'Whakairo – Māori carving - Legendary origins of carving', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/43046/pacific-carvings-and-tools (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Brett Graham, published 22 Oct 2014