Toi Whakairo
Whakairo
Learn to carve
Our whakairo programmes will teach you the history and tikanga of this ancient art form and will also give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience creating mahi toi with your own tools.
See what our tauira have to say about studying whakairo with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Ngā hōtaka e wātea ana
Programmes available
Ngā kaupapa takawaenga
Intermediate programmes (3)
Levels 4-6
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Kāwai Raupapa | Whakairo
Certificate in Māori & Indigenous Art | Carving
Complete practical projects and learn hands-on carving techniques as you study whakairo - Māori carving.
- Level 4
- Noho
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Te Tohu Tiaki Taonga
Level 5
Explore traditional and contemporary ways of preserving and archiving taonga, from toi Māori to digital data.
- Level 5
- Classroom
- No fees
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Toi Paematua | Whakairo
Diploma in Māori & Indigenous Art | Carving
Learn technical carving, symbolism, and project leadership through advanced study of whakairo - Māori carving.
- Level 5
- Noho
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae
Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
A teaching journey shaped by whānau
The journey to becoming a teacher was not a straight line for Nimai Fraser‑Eccleston, it was shaped by whānau, lived experience and his desire to create a meaningful life for his tamariki.
Governance grounded in te ao Māori
When the opportunity came up to study Manu Taiko, New Zealand Certificate in Māori Governance, at the Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Paora Rauputu didn’t hesitate to enrol.
Flexible study supports Cromwell business owner
Based in Cromwell, Sam Taylor needed flexibility to balance work, study and build his business, and found exactly that through the online Certificate in Small Business at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Turning point inspires commitment to change, community, and career
In 2024, Bryce Marsh faced a major turning point in life that led to him studying Manaaki Tangata at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, setting him on a path of healing, self-discovery and a desire to give back to his community.
A whānau journey of learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa wasn’t just a personal journey for Tania Dargaville (Te Rarawa). It became a whānau journey, shared alongside her sister and son, learning, growing and now graduating together.
