From cannabis to carving

An ex-con has carved out a new life after learning traditional Maori carving.

Dannevirke man Marvin Chase, 49, admits he ‘‘did many silly things’’ in his past, but says he has a new direction after studying more of his culture.

His longest stretch in jail was for trying to shoot a man who had kicked him out of a pub. ‘‘I just missed him. They picked me up that night, the Armed Offenders [Squad]. It was terrible. I was full of hate.’’

When he got out of prison he used his connections to become a cannabis dealer.

When his supply dried up, he decided to take a new direction and ‘‘get out’’. He knew it would be a long, hard slog.

‘‘I wanted to upgrade my skills, and see if I can work this brain and use my hands for practical stuff and get a new life.’’

He also loved to draw. So, he tried a mainstream art and design course, but quickly found the computer component too unfamiliar.

Then someone suggested a whakairo carving course at Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and everything fell into place. He started with a certificate, moved on to a degree, and loved every minute of it.

In April, he graduated with a bachelor of arts in whakairo and now has a collection of completed taonga.

‘‘In whakairo you’ve got to say a prayer before you work on your piece, and you put all that mauri in there – it’s a wairoa in the wood – a spirit.

‘‘It gives you the true essence of whakairo, so it’s not just a pattern in the wood. You get to know the meanings of the patterns and you try to make them a part of your life. It’s beautiful.’’

Chase loved the course so much that every day for four years he hitchhiked 60 kilometres between his home and Palmerston North. ‘‘It didn’t worry me. I had music. I listened to reggae and hop hop and I was always happy.’’ He also became a Mormon. ‘‘The almighty has given us free agency to do what we like to do, but we shouldn’t do everything we are free to do. We should have faith.

‘‘If I ever see that guy again [who he shot at], I’ll beg on my knees for forgiveness. I’ve changed now.’’

Working love and wisdom into his everyday interactions is now his focus. ‘‘We learned gratitude and humility [on the course]. You learn to make it through the day without swearing – that’s thrown open the door for me, to stop all that anger.’’

He is working on details for a commission pitch to carve a waharoa (gate) for a community project.