Library carving brings story of Tāne to life
For the past eight months, Invercargill kaiwhakairo (carver) Greg Houkamau has been using his spare time to make a carving for the Invercargill Public Library.
The Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust staff member was asked to demonstrate mahi whakairo (carving) to the public at the library as part of Māori Language Week in September, and he continued working on the resulting piece in his own workshop until it was finished.
His carving, Tāne-te-Wānanga-ā-Rangi, was unveiled at a blessing ceremony at the library on Monday morning.
‘‘When the library approached me about demonstrating . . . I felt honoured and humbled because it is a skill that I like to share with others,’’ he said.
The piece tells the story of Ta¯ ne, who travelled to the twelfth realm where he was welcomed by Io and received three baskets of knowledge and two sacred stones.
Upon returning to earth, he placed the baskets and stones in a wharekura (special house of knowledge), which he had built before his journey to the heavens. Tāne-te-Wānanga-ā-Rangi was left to maintain order on earth.
Houkamau has been carving for more than 30 years and has developed a traditional Ma¯ ori arts programme in Palmerston North.
Library manager Marianne Foster said it was a great opportunity for the public to see a carver at work while also promoting te reo and tikanga Māori and the work Nga¯ Kete had to offer.
She was looking forward to future collaboration opportunities, she said. ‘‘The library has a Ma¯ ori name, Te Haeata, and Greg has skilfully created a carving that brings together all that the library symbolises. This carving will be considered a treasured taonga.’’