Two cultures combine in a huge outdoor carving project in the lead-up to Waitangi Day celebrations.

British woodcarver Mike Davis and Māori artist Blaine Te Rito are working together on a billboard-sized, 6m x 3m, carved artwork in front of the Māori Television studios in Newmarket, Auckland.

Passers-by can see the Waitangi Day artwork from the road-side in Davis Crescent and viewers from New Zealand and around the world are watching the carvers on webcam.

When completed, the carving will represent the partnership between Tangata Whenua and the Crown. An Englishman and Māori chief are sitting in a waka, which signifies the Treaty of Waitangi as a vessel to uplift and move parties in the same direction, together, into the future.

Race to the deadline

With an official blessing by Ngati Whatua on Monday 14 January, the carving is to be completed by Waitangi Day. The project has been filmed for a reality-style show to screen on Māori Television during the Wednesday 6 February Waitangi Day broadcast.

This is the first time Mike Davies has worked collaboratively with Māori artist, Blaine Te Rito.

“I’m learning about the beliefs of Māori culture and the symbolic importance of recording your past through your carvings,” says Mike.

“The creation is as important as the finished piece. And working on an outside billboard and being on webcam means everyone can see the work in progress.”

Blaine Te Rito enjoys working with Mike, and is impressed with his woodcarving and excellent technical skills. He is looking forward to completing the project and sharing it with New Zealand and the world.

Carving concept

The concept is a waka (representing the Treaty of Waitangi) with two passengers – a Māori chief (representing Tangata Whenua) and an Englishman (representing the Crown). Both are holding quills signifying their role as co-signatories of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Englishman is holding a hoe (paddle) to steer and the Māori chief is holding a tewhatewha (weapon of command) and is directing the waka.

The piece represents both cultures moving in the same direction, collaboratively into the future.

Meet the artists

Blaine Te Rito (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Waiora) is a Māori artist based in Auckland. He specialises in the carving of native wood as well as other mediums such as bone, ivory and pounamu.

“There is great integrity in carving,” he explains. “It is a way of recording our traditions and our kaupapa. I always try and care in a way that if one of my tipuna were to come back today and see it, they would be happy with what I’m doing.”

Blaine is a licensed user of Toi Iho – the registered trademark denoting authenticity and quality in Māori arts – and creates commissioned artwork as well as pieces for local and international exhibitions.

Mike Davies is an accomplished British woodcarver. Mike is also a teacher and author. He specialises in the restoration of carved antiques and has undertaken a multitude of commissions for the British National Trust, royalty and private collectors.

Mike has been based in New Zealand for over 10 years but his work sees him travelling around the world.

Kotahi Te Ra: Waitangi 2008

Māori Television will present a 12-hour broadcast dedicated to New Zealand’s national day, Waitangi Day, on Wednesday February 6 2008.

From 9.00am to 9.00pm, there will be reports from key Waitangi Day events from home and abroad as well as news, views, interviews, discussions, documentaries, entertainment and historical highlights.

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Article by Tui MacDonald.

Image: British woodcarver, Mike Davies (left), with Māori carver Blaine Te Rito on their billboard sized project.