Awanui – Māori Art and Carving

Kā Uri offers a direct introduction to Māori art and traditional carving in Awanui. The gallery showcases locally made art, exhibition pieces and stories from the Far North. If you’re looking for cultural discoveries during your stay, this is a special reason to include Awanui in your travel plans.

Art and stories from the Far North

Kā Uri’s gallery showcases traditional and contemporary Māori art, as well as handmade pieces. They tell stories from the Far North and honour Northland’s heritage. Locally made art and unique exhibition pieces also shape the gallery’s character. Visitors can therefore enjoy more than a single glimpse of an artwork: the works on display offer different ways to explore design, craftsmanship and cultural stories.

Kā Uri’s shop also offers traditional Māori carvings, handmade jewellery, art and keepsakes. These pieces reflect the cultural heritage and beauty of the Far North. The gallery and shop offer different perspectives on craftsmanship: the focus here is on viewing the works on display, while there it is on discovering the handmade pieces for sale. If you like to consider culture and local design when choosing a place for your holiday, this focus is a useful guide to whether Awanui suits your travel interests.

Carving and kauri

At the workshop, visitors can watch experienced carvers working with traditional techniques. They can also learn about the cultural significance of the carving motifs and the tools used. The focus is therefore not only on finished pieces, but also on the craft processes and the motifs behind them. This is a different way to engage with Māori art than visiting the gallery.

Kauri is a special material for Kā Uri; it had been hidden in the ground for more than 45,000 years. It is shaped or carved into new works. The wood’s extraordinary age is as much a part of this work as the traditional techniques and the specific designs. For travellers interested in materials and how they are worked, this adds another dimension to the insight into carving.

Art in the streets and playgrounds

A work by local Māori artist Erstich is part of Awanui’s streetscape. It is located on a shop at the corner of SH1 and SH10. It depicts the pioke, or shark, which is part of Awanui’s story at Rangaunu Harbour. This motif brings a local story into the public realm and offers a different focus from the works in the gallery and workshop.

Awanui Park also has a playground. The additions announced in 2022 included public gas barbecues, toilets, picnic tables, seating, swings, climbing towers and slides. The newly upgraded playground officially opened on 28 May 2022 and offers play equipment for all age groups. Another distinct example is the playground at Awanui Reserve, which was designed with a maritime theme as part of its upgrade project. These details give families practical guidance for planning their outings without conflating the different facilities.

Gumdiggers Park offers another kauri-related experience: an audiovisual exhibit about events connected with the kauri forest preserved underground. This offers a different way to learn about kauri than the woodworking at Kā Uri, and complements the cultural experiences with an exhibit about this forest.

If you’d like to discover more destinations, you’ll also find Waipu, Matakohe, Cable Bay, Rawhiti, Lake Ohia, Whangaruru, Matapouri and Ruakaka here.

For the broader travel overview: Northland.