Master Carver Junior Niao is giving offenders from Whakatane and Te Teko the chance to help prepare and restore treasured carvings while they serve their community work sentences.
Groups supervised have become weekly visitors to Junior’s carving compound near Te Teko. They’ve helped to restore carvings for marae in the area, and store and prepare the timber for Junior at his carving studio.
“There are too many jobs for me to keep up with just in my area alone. It would be good to get a few people from the works groups to take up carving long term. I prefer to train people so they can help me service and prepare carvings all over the rohe,” says Junior.
Until recently, Junior was part of a Master Carver crew that traveled the country restoring and carving at marae, learning new techniques along the way. A qualified builder for 38 years, Junior has now set up a carving studio at home in Te Teko. And he’s passing his carving skills on to the offenders who work under his supervision.
“Some of the offenders haven’t even swung a hammer, let alone fixed anything. Learning handyman skills encourages offenders to work and fix things around their own home,” he says.
Along with practical skills, offenders are encouraged to participate in the maraestyle set up at Junior’s home.
Junior says offenders learn to identify their own whakapapa and with this knowledge they gain a sense of belonging and can take responsibility for themselves, their families and their actions.
“We start each day with a karakia and we are sure to tell them all about the traditions involved in the work we do. We have a number of people come through our doors who have no idea of where they are from, which I believe is crucial in knowing who they are,” says Junior.
It’s not just Maori who work with Junior; offenders from many nationalities have spent time at the carving compound. Probation Officer Lance Jacobs is pleased with the ongoing relationship between the Community Probation Service and the Niao family.
“We started talking about this idea three years ago and it finally came to fruition at the beginning of the year and has since taken off. We are very happy with the help we get from Junior and in return he is helped by offenders who are keen to participate,” says Lance.
Senior Community Work Supervisor Victor Hape says offenders want to serve their hours with Junior and that makes them more likely to complete their sentences successfully.
“They also learn about tikanga maori which can help empower them to make a change for the better. I get boys asking me ‘Hey Vic, when are we going back?’”
From left, Probation Officer Lance Jacobs, Master Carver Junior Niao and SCWS Victor Hape at Junior’s carving compound in Te Teko.