MAORI ARCITECTURE
From fale to wharenui and beyond
Deidre Brown – Penguin – Harcover -$70

A landmark achievement in New Zealand history, Māori Architecture charts, for the first time, the genesis and form of indigenous buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the vast array of Māori-designed structures and spaces — how they evolved over time, and how they tell the story of an every-changing people.

The book looks at facets of early Polynesian settlement, the influence of Christian and Western technology, the buildings of religio-political movements such as Ringatū, Parihaka and Ratana, post-war urban migration, and contemporary architecture.

Pic right - Whare Maori constructed at ratana Pa in early 1020's. Private Collection.

Deidre Brown’s absorbing, informed and sometimes controversial text is lavishly illustrated with over 130 photographs and artworks — all providing a long-overdue and fascinating survey of an important aspect of New Zealand culture and history.

Pic left-Motiti Island House, designed by Anthony Hoete, built 2001. Anthony Hoete.

Dr Deidre Brown is a Māori art and architectural historian of northern Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu and Pākehā descent. Her previous books include Tai Tokerau Whakairo Rākau: Northland Māori Wood Carving (2003, winner of the Best First Book Award, Non-Fiction at the 2004 Montana New Zealand Book Awards), Introducing Māori Art (2005), Māori Arts of the Gods (2005) and Te Puna: Māori Art from Te Tai Tokerau Northland (2007, co-edited with Ngarino Ellis).

She is currently Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland.
Māori Architecture is the result of a lifetime of research and teaching in this area for Dr Deidre Brown.