Aotearoa Bone and Stone Carving Academy

Aotearoa Bone and Stone Carving Academy (ABSCA) is a kaupapa Māori carving school in East Tāmaki, Auckland, led by kaiako Maha and Laura. Its one-day wānanga guide beginners through carving their own taonga from New Zealand pounamu or bone, with forms such as the toki, marama and rei niho, and the whakapapa and tikanga behind each piece woven through the day. The academy grew out of Toi Manawa, an initiative pairing Māori art with social work, and also runs programmes for schools, marae, correctional facilities, youth groups and tourism operators. Group and private bookings are available.