Carving our story!
We wish to raise $20,000 to complete the carving of a Waharoa gate to Te Rā School, expressing the story of the land and the people.
Wellington
Imagine a Waharoa entrance welcoming you into Te Rāwhiti Kindergarten and Te Rā Waldorf School! We wish to create a carved Waharoa (entrance way) to our kindergarten and school, expressing the story of the land and the people. Haere mai and welcome!
Our project is guided by Chris Gerretzen, Tohunga whakairo (master carver) of Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai (Tutor at Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki). Over the last three years, Chris has taught a group of teachers, parents and friends of Te Rā in evening classes, developing skills in Māori design and carving. From this work, the vision arose of a carved waharoa as a gift to Te Rāwhiti and Te Rā (www.tera.school.nz). This group of volunteers, led by master carver Chris and assisted by another skilled carver Rongo Ngata (our own kaiako Māori at Te Ra) will work on the four amo (pillars) over the coming months. As well as guiding the design and carving, Chris has been commissioned to design and carve the maihi (cross pieces). Together these six pieces will complete this beautiful project.
We have completed the first three phases of this project with the generous support of:
Kapiti Coast District Council Creative Communities Scheme, HR Nelson Trust, Te Rā Fundraising Group, late pioneer teacher Marie Büchler, and regular koha from our enthusiastic carvers group plus many volunteer hours for design and milling and transporting the timber.
• Phase 1: Upskilling community members
• Phase 2: Sourcing and felling the trees
• Phase 3: Milling and preparing the logs
The focus is now on phase 4: Carving and erecting the waharoa.
We seek your support for Phase 4 to bring this project to a successful completion.
You are invited to support us to complete it!
We NEED TO RAISE $20,000.
This will pay for the commissioned work as well as the design and oversight of our volunteers’ carving.
All raised money goes to the skilled carvers. The Kāpiti Waldorf Trust (proprietor of Te Rā School) warmly supports this project and will assist with engineering and structural costs.
As the Trust is a registered charity, all donations over $5 are tax deductible.
Kāpiti Waldorf Trust (CC29487)
We are deeply grateful for all support received.
Please contact for any questions you may have:
Woodwork teacher Paul Denford (pauld@tera.school.nz, 027-2463065) and
Trustee Doris Zuur (dorisz@tera.school.nz 027-2811570)
About us
The Kapiti Waldorf Trust is the legal entity that owns the land and building of Te Ra School and holds the Integration Agreement with the Ministry of Education to be state-integrated primary Waldorf School in Aotearoa New Zealand
Use of funds
All money raised will be used to pay for our skilled carvers. Any other over head costs are carried voluntarily by members of Te Ra School Community, and by the Kapiti Waldorf Trust (proprietor of the land and buildings).
Other page links
Latest update
Carving our Story - the last phase 21 July 2022
Carving our Story - creating a Waharoa gate way to Te Ra Waldorf School! It is all going great although the process has been somewhat slowed by Covid. We are back into it and are entering the last phase, including another push for fund-raising. The community members do all the work voluntarily in return for rich practical and cultural learning. The raised funds are all used for paying Chris, our master carver a modest honorarium. He is passing on so much skills and cultural knowledge. What a gift and privilege to learn with and work alongside with him. Our fundraising efforts are a combination of this Give a Little page, applying for grants, and our own traditional fundraising methods such as selling home made toys, selling firewood from trees that need to be felled at Te Ra and from selling Te Ra Honey, from its very own hive (website for our 'makers on line shop' published shortly). Thank you for your on-going support
Latest donations
Who's involved?
Page Q&A
Ask a question hereAny concerns?
Report this pageThank the donor
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.