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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 3

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MAORI CALLED TO WAR TARANAKI CARVER One of the most ambitious Maori carving work's essayed in New Zealand ceased last Saturday when Mr. Paikea Henare Toka left Hawera for the TrCntham military camp, where he will undergo a training course as a non-commissioned officer for. the Maori battalion. For the past 18 months Mr. Toka has been working on carvings for the restoration of TurutUf'u-Mokai, an ancient Maori stronghold near Hawera. Mr. Toka is one of the two Maoris selected from Taranaki to undertake special training courses.

Not for 150 years had carving such as the restoration of Turuturu-Mokai demanded been undertaken in the Dominion. With Mr. Toka’s departure the Only master of Maori carving art as it pertains to Taranaki will -be lost until his return.

Of the work planned in the first instance, much remained to be done, said Mr. Toka before his departure. Had the carving been in any other than the Taranaki style, it might have been possible for it to have been carried on.

“It was my hope that this work would be an example in the years to come of the true Taranaki Maori art," said Mr. Toka.

The large entrance gateway and panels have been completed, as well as tiie majority ■of the panels afcd gable ends for the food storehouse. Mr. Toka considers it would have taken him at least another four months to complete all the carving work required for the restoration. Coming from the Kaipara district, Mr, Toka first learned his craft at the Rotorua Maori arts and crafts school, and at the Dominion Museum, Wellington. He has worked on most of the major Maori carving projects in New Zealand in recent years. A skilled musician, he was conductor, haka and orchestra leader of the Maori choir which went to the Wembley Exhibition and made a world tour in 1924-25.'