Traditional Maori shapes have thousands years of design and development.  Research and testing in extreme natural conditions.  All of the patterns and shapes have an established History and native Theory.  The shapes reaffirm an ancient template that links all Maori carving.  The form and patterns also convey messages.  To the uninitiated,  Maori carvings may be viewed as beautiful sculpture. But the apprentice carver will see vivid hidden messages, ancient lore and tribal history.

 Bone Tiki

 

 Deer Horn Poupou

 Whakakai  Bone

 Bone Toki

 Bone Matakupenga

 Bone Whai Stingray

 Bone Mangopare
 

Bone Heru - comb, bone pekapeka, toka whakairo - carved stone

This is a Heru comb, hand carved from sperm whale jaw bone. The whale was one from a stranding in the 1960's. I rate it as my best carving, ever.
I recently gave this to a close friend.  The actual value is disputable but for me, its priceless, like people. (bet you wish you were my friend now too)

I like the shape that Pekapeka have, the curves remind me of water (wairua) and rivers, because they flow.  They can also look like waves rolling.  Art in Nature.

 

 Toka Whakairo - Toka Ahuru - Carved stone.
Toka Ahuru is a tiny mystic island off the east coast of the North Island of Aotearoa NZ.  Its said to be a single tree (kahikatea) that grows on a rock.  Mahaki rau sent his pet shark to the island, and the shark returned with a branch. He used the branch to grow trees from one side of Turanga over to the other side.  Some of the trees are still alive today.
Many people believe that Toka Ahuru is Aerial reef.  But I have seen both.
This is a rock carved with water pattern. As waves carve stone.

Bone manaia, wheku, takarangi.

This is a manaia shaped from tohora.  Sperm whale. The eyes are paua and root coral.

 Bone Mask (Wheku)

 Bone Spiral (Takarangi)

bone poupou

Here are some of the Maori bone figures I carve similar to Poupou.  All figures are different, not just because of the shapes but also the shape and size of bone is different. I like to make them similar to each other, but still different.  Just like real people.

enter the templeThe Mana

Some times you end up at a mystic place, and you realise that, its where you started.  This place fixed me and then, I helped to fix it. The shark (Ikahoea) is carved swimming, on the ceiling. It's surreal, like standing on the ocean floor looking at a shark above you. The house is different now.  Its been moved afew meters and trees have grown. 
This is the house of Kaipoho from Rongowhakaata.  Carved by master Raharuhi Rukupo.  Some of the poupou are carved with jade (pounamu) stone. This house is the younger brother of the famous house Te_Hau_ki_Turanga  But this house lives up to its name, Te Mana.