John George

“It’s all about the carvings”

John-George is a Maori carver. He plays a key role in a culture that is built around the memories and stories of ancestors. Maori never developed an alphabet until European settlers arrived in New Zealand, but their carvings represent a highly developed style of reading and writing.

Watch as he compares Maori and Western culture and describes the importance of Maori carving in his tradition.