James Rickard is the head tutor of Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau, the National Carving School based at Whakarewarewa Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua. James wanted to be a pilot, but his mum had other ideas – he’s now worked as a carver for the best part of four decades.
He talks with Justine Murray about the role of a carver which is not all about restoring wharenui (meeting houses); it starts with learning the history and politics of the iwi and hapū.
