Congratulations to master carver Riki Manuel who has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in this year’s Kings Birthday Honours.
Mr Manuel has been dedicated to Toi Māori (Māori arts) since the late 1970s when he began his career as a carver at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua.
Mr Manuel opened his gallery and workshop, Toi Mana Māori Gallery, in 1984. He promoted artists from across New Zealand and ran workshops in the Christchurch Arts Centre until the gallery’s closure in 2011. He was a founding member of Te Uhi ā Mataora, a national collective of Taa Moko artists established in 2000, and is recognised with helping the renaissance of the art form.
He was one of the first artists with the Toi Iho trademark in 2002, the only trademark that recognises and authenticates Māori artists and their works.
He has produced a range of significant commissions, including a waka for Millenium celebrations in Christchurch, carvings for several marae projects in the North and South Islands, contributions for Kaikōura’s cultural art trail, and various pieces presented to international leaders.
He is a supporter of Kapahaka and has been a past regional and national performer. Mr Manuel currently supports Kapahaka in local Christchurch schools through fundraising and creating designs for uniforms.