Peter Puketapu with his homemade waka and paddlers. Photo / David Haxton
Peter Puketapu with his homemade waka and paddlers. Photo / David Haxton
Creating has always been Peter Puketapu’s specialty, but his newest project might just be his best yet.
Peter, who is 88 years old, lives in a retirement village in Paraparaumu with his wife Margaret, where they are surrounded by decades worth of his crafts.
His newest creation is a miniature waka, which he meticulously carved over a period of about three to four months.
Margaret said it is her favourite piece he’s done to date, and the couple has it proudly displayed in their living room.
The idea for the carving came from a book called Te Toi Whakairo, The Art of Māori Carving by Hirini Moko Mead.
Peter, who is from Te Āti Awa iwi and Puketapu hapū, was captivated by an image of a waka in the book, but also had fond memories of his experience steering a waka at Waitangi.
A waka and paddlers created by Peter Puketapu. Photo / David Haxton
His hobby certainly keeps him busy, and Peter said, “I’ve always had a project on the go”.
It all started when Peter, who was living in Lower Hutt at the time, was offered an apprenticeship at Freighter Trailers, where he became a boilermaker (a tradesperson who fabricates steels, iron, or copper into boilers and other large containers) and started to hone in on his creativity.
After working at Freighter Trailers for a while, he moved to a new job at Fletcher Steel where he was able to develop his welding skills.
After spending time jumping between different jobs, he decided to work for himself under the name of his late wife’s business, Associated Ceramics.
Some of Peter Puketapu's projects. Photo / David Haxton
Over his lifetime he’s worked in many other different jobs as well, including doing engineering work in prisons, signwriting and project engineering, but the one thing all his jobs had in common was a creative aspect.
Once both his and Margaret’s working lives ended, they moved up to Kāpiti, where his crafting hobby really took off.
He’s never stuck to just one artistic medium, and has dabbled in woodwork, stone carving, wood carving, metalwork, and many others.
“He’s just a natural handyman,” Margaret said.
A ceramic dog made by Peter Puketapu. Photo / David Haxton
Their backyard showcases many of Peter’s works, including a bird bath, carved statues, handmade benches and the various wall pieces that line their fence.
The couple keep his work in every room of their house as well, with different stone statues, carved book ends, a porcelain dog modeled after Peter’s pig dogs and, of course, the miniature waka decorating the space.
He has no plans to stop creating anytime soon. In fact, he’s already planning his next project – a bone-carved comb for his granddaughter.
