Travel Theme : Wood

Māori carving

I hope this wooden carving of a Māori totem has not scared you away from this post. I believe these symbolic carvings are placed on totems at the entrance to the Māori Pa (meeting-house) to frighten off evil spirits.

Māori Wood Carving

As Māori did not have a written language until the 19^th century, carvings were used to record and preserve the history and culture of our people. Ornate Māori carvings can be found on meeting houses, canoes, weapons and jewellery – with superior carvings seen as a sign of prestige.

Māori carvings are a record of tribal affairs and pay deep respect to ancestors, history and the people for whom they are prepared – although they cannot be read or interpreted in a Western sense.

In 2 weeks time I will be back in New Zealand and hope to see more of the Māori culture.

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A different type of wood carving

A difficult picture to take because of the reflections, but this is to try to give some idea of the size

 

Close up of some of the detail

So much to look at

This carving was fascinating and as you looked you would see more and more details.

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Lovely theme this week Ailsa. Click here to take a look at other posts.

Valley of the giants

Very sturdy bench

board walks wind through the forest

This big scary wooden monster stalked through the forest

Jack back at school

I am a tree hugger, I love trees