Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was shown around Te Puia's bronze foundry yesterday as part of her trip to Rotorua.
Miss Clark was shown the workshop by New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute director Karl Johnstone and was talked through the process of bronze casting the carvings.
Distinct to Rotorua, the casters also make use of the natural environment in Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley using water from the sulphur-chloride pools to patina the bronze.
Miss Clark said the carvings were a "visionary project".
"It is an enormous undertaking but it is a very exciting project. The design is unique in that it can be taken to any medium, including bronze."
Miss Clark said the use of bronze was symbolic of immortality.
Image 1 of 10: 130814sp7 Helen Clark visiting Te Puia. Photo/Stephen Parker
"Bronze is a material that can stand for eternity, whereas wood has a lifetime. The use of bronze is a concrete statement of a culture that has stood through time and continues to do so."
Mr Johnstone said the foundry was part of an ongoing focus of introducing new knowledge and expertise to its students and schools.
"We are trying to push the limits of the material, including its ability to capture the finest elements of carving."
Mr Johnstone said while many considered bronze to be contemporary in terms of Maori culture, the skills and techniques have been used for thousands of years as Maori adopted evolving technology.
