Master carver Whiting remembered

He was born in a nikau hut with ponga tree walls and grew to become one of our country’s most revered artists.

Master carver Cliff Whiting, died at the age of 81 yesterday morning.

Whiting played a pivotal role in the early days of Te Papa and was recognised for his endeavours when he was made a member of the prestigious Order of New Zealand.

Whiting was of Te Whanau a Apanui descent in the eastern Bay of Plenty/East Coast.

He was appointed to the order in 1998 and his name sits alongside other great New Zealanders, such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Helen Clark, and Sir Bob Charles.

He was the master carver responsible for creating Te Papa’s contemporary marae and was also the museum’s first kaihautu (leader).

In a 2015 interview with television show Waka Huia said he was born in Te Pohue, Hawke’s Bay, in the modest hut and learned many of his skills from his Maori mother and Pakeha father.

Te Papa chief executive Geraint Martin said Whiting was instrumental in establishing the national museum.

‘‘His vision and leadership in designing our spectacular Marae, Rongomaraeroa, embodied the spirit of partnership that the museum has honoured from its beginnings to this very day.

‘‘His mana and dignity, and contribution to the understanding of our bi-cultural history and artistic traditions, was recognised in his receiving Aotearoa New Zealand’s highest honour – The Order of New Zealand.

‘‘His legacy lives on in Te Papa through the example he set, which we follow and build upon to this day.’’

Arts Foundation director Simon Bowden said Whiting received the Icon Award, the foundation’s highest honour for artists for extraordinary achievement and with a profound impact on the nation, in 2013.