Damian Mackie

Damian Mackie

Kaiwhakairo 

Born in Wakatipu and a descendant of Ngāti Kura, Damian’s kaupapa toi skill set encompasses Whakairo, Ta Moko and Rauangi (visual art).

Damian is a graduate of Maunga Kura Toi, Bachelor of Māori Art – Whakairo, and has been employed as Kaiwhakairo at the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust.

Raised in Hornby, Ōtautahi, Damian was introduced to whakairo at school and developed his ability to draw Mahi Toi from a young age, before learning the craft of Ta Moko and later being given the opportunity to study whakairo at Northtec, Whangarei.

As a young tāne Damian has represented Aotearoa in Rugby League playing in Australia and England. He has held a variety of roles during his working career and holds two trade qualifications and experience working in the safety industry both in Australia and Aotearoa.

‘”I feel very fortunate to be employed as a Kaiwhakairo at the Whakaraupō Carving Centre a supporting and upholding the mana of our people through mahi toi”

Eugene Whakatope

Ākonga Kaiwhakairo

Eugene Whakatope is employed by the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust as an Ākonga Kaiwhakairo, supporting our Kaiwhakairo and other Ākonga studying with Whakaraupō Kura.

As a descendant of Ngā Puhi, Tuhoe and Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa iwi, Eugene has strived to uphold the mana of his people and whānau. Serving in the New Zealand Army for  nearly a decade, Eugene has been able to support many of the Ākonga who have come through our Kaupapa Māori Toi Whare Wānanga.

Eugene is currently studying Te Reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Whakairo with Whakaraupō Kura.

Eugene Whakatope

Noah Mackie

Kura Manager

Noah Mackie operates our various Whakaraupō Kura programmes as an educator, writer, and researcher with a B.A in English Literature & Cultural Anthropology.

Born in Ōtautahi, and a descendant of Ngāti Kura and Ngāpuhi, Noah abandoned the idea of going straight into tertiary education, and instead spent time in Japan, Europe, and eventually Australia. This set the importance of culture in stone, and planted the seed of studying his own culture- Te Ao Māori.

Noah is an anarchist and activist when it comes to Māori rights and sovereignty, and that education is the pathway whereby Tangata Whenua can become active in the fabrication of Māori society today. Learning isn’t about what you cover, it’s about what you discover.