This thesis began from a passion in Rongowhakaata whakapapa, history and culture. Having been a former Librarian and Museum Curator for a large part of my career, I developed an interest in the history of Māori taonga and carving. My employment at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington and later at Te Papa and Tairawhiti Museums fuelled this passion. I was particularly interested in the Rongowhakaata carving style known as the Tūranga style of carving.