Māori Arts and Crafts Institute

The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) opened in 1967 in Rotorua, New Zealand due to the impending threat of the loss of traditional Māori arts. In 1926 a Māori Arts and Crafts school had been established in Rotorua by Sir Āpirana Ngata, and the new school continued the tradition in a location well-established for traditional Māori arts and crafts. The location of school at Whakarewarewa enabled easy access to the lucrative tourist market, which continues to be a substantial source of sales.

Founded in 1926 by Āpirana Ngata, then the Member of Parliament for Eastern Maori which included Rotorua, the school focused on keeping teaching traditional Māori arts and crafts. The school was located near the geyser field at Whakarewarewa outside of Rotorua, an enduring tourist draw-card.

The Rotorua Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Act 1963 founded the school as a legal entity, and the act was amended by the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute Amendment Act 1967 which changed it from a local to a national institute, by removing most references to Rotorua. Since the spelling of Maori has changed to Māori as part of an effort to make the Māori language phonetic.

The Institute generally falls under the tourism portfolio and the Ministry of Economic Development, with the Minister of Tourism or an Associate Minister of Tourism making appointments to the board. Recent appointments have included: Robert McFarlane, Ani Waaka, David Thomas, Sir Howard Morrison, June Grant, Judith Stanway, Ray Watson,Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, Mike Simm, David Tapsell Ken Raureti, Robyn Bargh and Tupara Morrison.

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