Skip Content

Every Thursday Tiare Turetahi starts his whakairo class with ancient karakia as he and his tauira prepare for the day ahead.
 
His tauira are currently chipping away at blocks of totara, kauri and rimu in a workshop at the Auckland City Mission with their just-sharpened chisels.
 
The nine tauira are not your everyday types that you would find in a classroom, however.
 
The majority of them are among Auckland’s homeless or battling alcohol and drug addictions – or both.
 
Earlier this year, Auckland Council released research into the city's homeless population, which has more than doubled in the city centre in the space of a year.
Fairfax Media said a count last October found 142 people sleeping rough within three kilometres of the Sky Tower, up from just 68 in 2013.
The men Tiare works with come to the mission each week where they find something to eat, a place to keep warm and dry and a place where they learn the ancient art of whakairo.
 
Tiare says it’s his role to introduce his tauira, most of whom are Māori, to whakairo and to reassociate them with their culture.
 
He also works with the Waipareira Trust and offers similar classes for homeless men in Waitākere.
 
“The things that I teach are things that have been around for thousands of years – the only thing that has changed is the medium,” says Tiare, of Ngāti Kahungunu descent.
 
Tiare, who was taught the craft by former tauira of the late master carver Pine Taiapa more than 20 years ago, said he was teaching his tauira the very basics of the art form.
 
“We just go back to the start, I look at the patterns they can draw, how to work with grains in the wood and things like how to sharpen their chisels.”
 
“Some of these guys don’t actually realise that they’re carvers.”
 
He’s hoping his introductory course will potentially lead to tertiary study for his tauira with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
 
“These guys isolate themselves for 20 hours a day and keep to themselves but when they come here it is four hours that they really shine.
 
“I’m hopeful that it will give them confidence for their own journey in life, I’m not here to turn them into master carvers but I would love to see them go on to further education with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.”
 
“I would love to see some of these guys graduate with their tohu in whakairo.”

 Back to news & events

Published On: 03 November 2015

Article By: James Ihaka



Other Articles

  • 23 May 2025

    Rangatahi return to founding campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

    Rangatahi from Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha and Te Awamutu College return to the founding campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to study mahi toi through the Visual Arts Secondary Tertiary Programme.

  • 20 May 2025

    Marae-Based Research: A Vehicle for Reclamation

    Explore Kimiora Raerino’s inspiring journey from urban Māori upbringing to PhD researcher and Senior Research Fellow at Te Manawahoukura. Discover how marae-based research and māra kai became powerful tools for reconnection, cultural identity, and community wellbeing.

  • 14 May 2025

    A full circle moment from tauira to kaiako

    Explore the inspiring journey of Krystle Nikora, from tauira to kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her passion for te reo Māori blossomed and led her to teach He Pī ka Rere Level 3 and 4.

  • 8 May 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study opportunities in their Semester B offerings

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study programmes for Semester B, including Māori Governance, Digital Media and Design, Building and Construction Skills, and Study and Employment Skills. Designed to meet the needs of tauira, whānau, hapū, and iwi, these programmes integrate mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori perspectives. Enrol now to grow your skills and achieve your aspirations.