Waka Huia | by Tim Codyre

A waka huia is a storage container that was the property of Chiefs and high-ranking individuals. They are often ovoid with handles on each end and can be opened.
Māori used waka huia to store tribal taonga (heirlooms) and other valuable personal possessions such as jewellery and feathers. These items were highly tapu (sacred) due to their proximity to the wearer, especially those worn on or around the head, believed to be the most sacred part of the body.

 Tim is an Auckland based artist who became obsessed with woodcarving during his late teens. During his time at Elam art school, a lecturer introduced him to Ngāti Whatua master carver, Alan Nopera. This led to an apprenticeship in traditional whakairo carving. Tim went on to become the head carver on the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School whare wānanga, Kahurangi ki Maungawhau. Which then led him to work as Māori carving supervisor at the Māori Community Centre in Auckland; which was run for over thirty years by Ana Tia. During his time at the centre, Tim had the privilege of training many young men how to carve traditional whakairo.