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	Craft in Aotearoa New Zealand Once this was a land of great birds and great trees. Human kind stood first upon these shores because of astonishing feats and seamanship. Those early Pacific migrants must have marveled at the splendor and abundance that greeted them. Generations of craftspeople honed their ancient skills to fashion from new materials objects of great utility and beauty. Maori men realised technologies to carve wood and fashion stone for tools, weapons, buildings and adornment. Maori women developed ingenious skills with fibrous plant materials, creating baskets, mats and some of the beautiful garments ever made. These special Maori makers always respected the materials they worked with, paying particular homage to the goddess, Hine-te-iwa-iwa to embody her radiance in their craft and so enhance their worldly lives. In 1998 New Zealand craft artists, whoever they are, continue to make beautiful things couched in the traditions of their ancestors, but with a contemporary presence. James Mack Craft Curator