Rotorua carver to learn from Chinese masters

Rotorua greenstone carver Niki Nepia is off to China for three months to learn from some of the best carvers in the world. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua carver Niki Nepia will be learning from the masters when he takes a three-month trip to China to advance his skills in the ancient art.

Mr Nepia accepted an invitation from the New Zealand International Culture and Trade Association to spend three months in China where he will be tutored by some of the world's best jade carvers.

He will be based in the city of Sihui in Guangdong province and has received a grant from Creative New Zealand to cover travel and accommodation costs.

Mr Nepia, who has been carving jade/greenstone/pounamu for the past 10 years and works at Mountain Jade in Rotorua, said the invitation was yet to fully sink in, but he was excited about his trip.

"It doesn't feel like this is a job, it's something I'm passionate about," he said.

"I hope to learn some different techniques and the calibre of the carvers over there is superior to most places in the world.

"In China they have a rich history of jade and nephrite jade carving much older than what we have in New Zealand."

Mr Nepia heads off on his learning journey on September 16 and returns on December 22.

While in China he will also attend the Suzhou Arts & Crafts Exhibition where he will display two of his works with four other New Zealand carvers, including Rotorua's Lewis Gardiner.

New Zealand International Culture and Trade Association secretary Sabine Willemsen said Mr Nepia would learn different aspects of the art while in China.

"Chinese and Maori place a very similar value upon jade," she said.