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Dr Pakariki Harrison
Ngāti Porou
Carver
Paki Harrison is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished people of his generation in the field of Māori art and is best known as a leading tohunga of carving.
Paki is of Ngati Porou descent, is the eldest of 21 children and grew up in Ruatoria. He was introduced to Māori carving while attending Te Aute College in Hawke’s Bay. His mentor there was master carver Pine Taiapa, one of the first graduates from the Rotorua carving school established in 1928. Paki acknowledges Pine as a great mentor and teacher of many master carvers and is personally indebted to his support and teachings.
In the 1960s, Paki was a young school teacher working in Auckland and teaching carving at night. During this time he wrote extensively about carving and the QEII Arts Council sent him to France to present a series of lectures and demonstrate carving. On his return he spent five years carving the meeting house on Whaiora Marae in Otara. Paki has since carved and supervised over 10 Marae. Paki’s carvings at the Tane-nui-a-Rangi Marae represent all major tribes and its elaborate carved figures, tukutuku (woven flax panels) and kowhaiwhai (painted rafter patterns) embrace the total cosmic genealogies and mythology of the Māori people.
In the 1980s, Paki lectured at the University of Auckland and was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature in 1991. In 1997, Paki and his wife – well-known weaver Hinemoa - received the 1997 Te Waka Toi Award in recognition of their lifetime’s work. Paki was awarded the Queens Service Order in 2000. In 2002, Paki led the team who designed the Toi Iho / Māori Made mark for Creative New Zealand. Paki also led the team which placed the unit standards for Whakairo on the national framework. In 2004 they had the first graduates at Te Wananga O Aotearoa for Bachelors Degree in Whakairo a 3 yr course N.Z.Q.A approved degree.
He has published books on his wharenui, and shown his work in exhibitions nationally and in Italy, Japan, France, United States and Australia.
Paki has committed himself to a life long pursuit of knowledge once thought to be lost forever. His learning extends well beyond the techniques of carving to its symbolism and role in transmitting tribal history. In addition to searching literature years of research have enabled him to analyse and explain the symbolism of the waka taua (war canoe), whare whakairo (carved house) and kowhaiwhai.
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