Te Kura o Matariki Whakairo | Art Exhibition Māori Wood Carving

During the months of November and December 2025, Te Kura o Matariki Whakairo presented their first art exhibition, Māori Wood Carving, at the Lysaght Watt Gallery. This significant event was a milestone for both the school and the talented students involved. The students shared stories of reconnection, growth and identity through whakairo, showing a sense of deep engagement with Te Ao Māori .

The opening was a thrilling event as eager crowds gathered and queued outside the gallery, buzzing with anticipation to step through the doors and immerse themselves with the breathtaking, inspiring, creative, intelligent and engaging collections. What a memorable event it must have been for the school and the students! But, of course, all good things must come to an end, and the wood carvings has now been put away.

We wish to use this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to Te Kura o Matariki Whakairo and their students for presenting such a magnificent exhibition of Māori wood carvings. Thank you for choosing Lysaght Watt Gallery as a host and friend. We share a common goal of providing a space where art can flourish through storytelling, and cultural exploration, enriching whānau and the wider Hāwera community.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

"This marks the very first exhibition of our kura (school), Te Kura o Matariki Whakairo, and stands as a milestone for our people in Taranaki. It is an opportunity to share with our whānau, hapū, iwi, and wider community the vital work being done to revitalise the art of whakairo and strengthen our cultural foundations. At the heart of this kaupapa is the goal to equip our people with knowledge and carving skills that can serve future generations - enabling them to live, teach, and contribute to the cultural life of our marae, hapū, and iwi for years to come." - Meka Mauriri, Kaiako, Te Kura o Matariki Whakairo.

Photos: Opening day on November 3, 2025. Photographer: Te Aroha Hohaia.