Te Ara Toki is the longest continuously occupied marae-based wharewhakairo in Aotearoa and the only marae-based wharewhakairo in Te Tauihu. It began in 1987, when a carving school was established by Tohunga Whakairo (Master Carver) John Mutu (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama) to begin carving our wharenui, Turangāpeke, which opened in 1990.
After more than 30 years’ operating from a small classroom within an old school building gifted to the marae in the 1980s, Te Ara Toki was given its own free-standing home in late 2022, following support from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, ITM Motueka and Nelson Builders to renovate another old building on the marae.
Today, Te Ara Toki continues to hold ancient carving traditions at a level of excellence, stamping Te Āwhina’s mark as the leading centre for Toi Māori (traditional Māori arts) in Te Tauihu.
Te Ara Toki employs a fulltime residential carver and a residential carving apprentice.
“I teach you, you teach many’ is part of the tikanga of learning and carving. John taught me that, and he was taught the same.”
Roni Petley, Kai Whakairo, Te Ara Toki