The art of carving and etching stone is thousands of years old and engrained in the history of many ancient and thriving cultures across the world. 

In Maori history, carving was a spiritual act surrounded in tapu. The wood chips carved and the tools used were all considered tapu, and thus were put in high regard. The same also goes for the carvers who would craft their intricate designs into wood, stone, and the sacred, pounamu. They were highly regarded people within the tribe.