How to become a Māori carver
Also called: Classical Māori carver
Māori carvers use Māori symbols and patterns to carve cultural stories, genealogy and other ideas onto materials like wood, stone and bone.
Main tasks
- Develop design concepts for carvings
- Work with clients to discuss and revise designs
- Research special designs and symbols
- Select and prepare carving material
- Manage orders and schedule carving projects
- Create detailed and technical illustrations
- Carve original objects for exhibtion and commercial purposes
- Work with community experts to get advice
How to become one
You need experience to become a Māori carver and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Required: experience working with iwi and Māori groups; experience in carving, Māori art or similar work; an understanding of the history of Māori carving; an understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori; experience in te ao Māori. Other requirements: to do training; an advanced certificate or diploma in Māori carving mana whakairo; a bachelor's degree in Māori carving mana whakairo; a portfolio of work.
Ways in
- Certificates and diplomas: Advanced certificates and diplomas in māori carving mana whakairo. TEC links this job to study in visual arts and crafts. Qualifications: NZ Dip in Nga Toi, Heke Toi Whakairo. Usually 1 year.
Pay · Past change
- Most common pay: $55,168 to $106,168 a year (median $61,336), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Upper: $151,000 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
- Change in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses: Strong increase (TEC). This is past change, not a forecast.
Who does this work
- About 21 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Māori carver?
You need experience to become a Māori carver and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Required: experience working with iwi and Māori groups; experience in carving, Māori art or similar work; an understanding of the history of Māori carving; an understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori; experience in te ao Māori. Other requirements: to do training; an advanced certificate or diploma in Māori carving mana whakairo; a bachelor's degree in Māori carving mana whakairo; a portfolio of work.
How much does a Māori carver earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $61,336 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $55,168 to $106,168 a year.
Has the number of people working as a Māori carver grown in New Zealand?
It has grown strongly: TEC records a strong increase in the number of people doing this job between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. This is past change, not a forecast.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026