MAORI ART   Silver and Pewter Maori designed pendants Addie Wainohu Ahurei Weavers Andrew White Aotearoa Arts Blaine Te Rito and Pamela Skittrup Bone carvers cooperative 1 Bone Carvers Cooperative 2 Cary McClelland Christine Butler Colin Bennett Gavan Riley Greenstone artists cooperative 1 Greenstone artists cooperative 2 Greenstone Artists Cooperative 3 Hepi Maxwell Jean Currie and Sheila Sullivan Jeanette Shearer Joachim Penneckendorf Judy Reinken Klaske Buys Len and Candy Kay - Deer bone carvers Maori Wood Art Omni Caeon Pacific Artists cooperative Pacific Curls - Musicians Patrick James Griffiths Paua Shell Collective Rick and Jenny Bromhead Sarah Johns Susan Haywood-Smith Uenuku Papers Watea Arts and Design Wayne Ross Whirimako Black - Musician Zizania                     Silver and Pewter Maori designed pendants Addie Wainohu Ahurei Weavers       Andrew White Aotearoa Arts Blaine Te Rito and Pamela Skittrup       Bone carvers cooperative 1 Bone Carvers Cooperative 2 Cary McClelland       Christine Butler Colin Bennett Gavan Riley       Greenstone artists cooperative 1 Greenstone artists cooperative 2 Greenstone Artists Cooperative 3       Hepi Maxwell Jean Currie and Sheila Sullivan Jeanette Shearer       Joachim Penneckendorf Judy Reinken Klaske Buys       Len and Candy Kay - Deer bone carvers Maori Wood Art Omni Caeon       Pacific Artists cooperative Pacific Curls - Musicians Patrick James Griffiths       Paua Shell Collective Rick and Jenny Bromhead Sarah Johns       Susan Haywood-Smith Uenuku Papers Watea Arts and Design       Wayne Ross Whirimako Black - Musician Zizania     The Maori art, carving and craft featured on our gallery includes the work of leading Aotearoa New Zealand Maori artists whose work carries the toi iho (Maori made) registered mark and also of non-Maori (tauiwi) artists whose creative preference is to produce Maori inspired designs using materials commonly used by Maori such as greenstone, bone and flax. Their work contributes enormously to our theme of capturing the colour, ambience and character of the cultures, landscapes and people of New Zealand and elsewhere in the South Pacific. The artists we list are: The Mahi Whakairo Partnership draws on a vast experience in Maori visual art to produce these finely crafted pieces. Each design is an original work that carries a unique theme created by leading contemporary Maori artist Lyonel Grant who is of Te Arawa descent. These native timber boxes designed by Lyonel Grant are both ornamental and practical, and therefore make an ideal gift that truly reflects the rich culture that is Aotearoa, New Zealand. Addie Wainohu was taught the art of kete making (whakairo kete) at the age of eleven by her grandfather, the late Laddie Tamati of Wairoa-Ngai Te Apatu. He inspired and encouraged her to continue the art because very few wahine (women) made kete. During the last two to three years she has put more focus on making the small kete we list on our site, adorning them with pieces of paua shell which are symbolic of old and contemporary Maori art. Christine Butler is an artist of Pakeha descent who works with multi-media. On her behalf we list kete (Maori kits, handbags and baskets) and jewelry made of paua. She is willing to commission designs of your choice. Emma Jackson is inspired by all forms of design. The focus of her interest is predominantly abstract with particular emphasis on the forms created through different combinations of definite lines. Being mostly self taught, in recent years she has been experimenting with ceramic and kiln formed glass. Shawn Bushell brings to the partnership with Emma Jackson direct descendence from the Ngati Kahungunu iwi. He is passionate about his Maori heritage and inspired by it's art forms. Together they bring together their passions to create an expression of traditional Maori art with a practical use and contemporary feel. Hepi Maxwell is a leading Aotearoa New Zealand carver of pounamu (greenstone). His work carries the toi iho (Maori made) registered mark which his status as a member of Ngatirangiwewehi o Rotorua iwi and as a greenstone and bone carver of note entitles him to use. Hepi describes his work as being not of a traditional nature but based on the gentle sweeping curves of ancient Maori art. Hepi's carving career began after a horrific accident cost him his legs and he was forced to look for an alternative means of earning his living. His pieces are now frequently commissioned for overseas dignatories and he is also invited to demonstrate his art at various forums throughout the world. A very successful exhibition of his work was, for instance, recently held in Vancouver, Canada. Joachim Penneckendorf is originally from Germany but settled in New Zealand fifteen years ago. Jade (nephrite) is his preferred medium. His work is in demand world-wide. Judy Reinken lives in New Zealand's far north. Her beautifully crafted, high quality kete whakairo (decorated kits or baskets) are available in a range of sizes, patterns and colours such as black, green, blue, red and purple. Klaske Buys is of Dutch origin. Her pieces incorporate a strong Aotearoa New Zealand theme which reflect her use of Jade, or, as it is known in New Zealand, Pounamu or Greenstone. Because there are regional variations to the colour of Pounamu, Klaske's pieces may have dark or light tonings depending on what is available at the time of ordering. Klaske also points out that because each piece is handcrafted, there may be some variation in size. All the neck pendants listed for sale are hung from braided and waxed polyester cords. Mandy Sunlight and Rouati Waata are mother and daughter flax weavers who have been practicing their craft from their home in New Zealand's far north for many years. Mandy is English by birth, her daughter Rouati is of Maori and Pakeha (New Zealand European) parentage. The flax Mandy and Rouati weave is either unsoftened or softened. Softening is achieved by boiling. It is also often dyed before being woven into kete that are strong, decorative and very light. Zizania: The pieces listed are made from or packaged in handmade paper created by Zizania from Manchurian Wild Rice (Zizania latifolia) by craftsmen based in Northland. Where the items are packaged in the handmade paper the paper has been hand-folded into boxes which display the art pieces beautifully. Uniquely boxed and with a matching gift card, each makes a totally New Zealand gift of the highest quality. Aotearoa Arts Limited is a manufacturer and wholesaler of Maori woodcarvings using New Zealand native timber and greenstone. They also supply New Zealand designed, wooden sculptural pieces, Rotorua-produced piu piu and raupo poi, and a large range of jade and mother of pearl jewellery. They have a large number of corporate customers and are happy to work on any specific requirements our customers may have. Their pieces are individually hand-crafted to a high standard, to satisfy the requirements and expectations of discerning souvenir buyers and collectors.