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The most important tools were adzes (toki) and chisels (whao). Stone adze (pronounced "ads") heads were lashed to a wooden handle and used in working wood, including canoe building. Chisels were primarily used for finer carving. The majority were made from basalt or other hard rock.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/kohatu-maori-use-of-stone/page-1
A stone drill or Tūwiri
Māori adze stored at Te Papa (note the use of cord)
Māori chisel stored at Te Papa- this one uses pounamu for the chisel blade
Toi Whakairo : Māori Art Carving
Toi Whakairo : Māori Art Carving
Why not hone your whakairo skills carving soap?
Why not hone your whakairo skills carving soap?
This can be done with something sharp eg. a kebab stick. This is an example of some stunning work in soap by carver Jadak Watawai. Research traditional designs or carve something meaningful to you and your whanau. Keep it or give it as a gift to someone!
Planning your work
Planning your work
Use this sheet to plan your design. There are examples below.
When you do art in year 9 you will most likely learn about pattern making and Māori symbols. Decide on your pattern or symbol BEFORE you start carving! Each design has different meaning.
Here are some examples:
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