Joe Dutaona To Represent Bougainville At Ngākau Carving Symposium In New Zealand: 12th - 26th April 2025

Renowned Bougainville Carver to Join International Artist Community for Unique Cultural Exchange

Thames, New Zealand – Joe Dutaona, a distinguished carver from Pokpok Island in The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, will be attending the third annual Ngākau Carving Symposium in Thames from 12th to 26th April 2025.

Joe’s participation in this two-week event marks a significant opportunity to continue to grow the cultural connections that exist between Aotearoa and Bougainville. He will join indigenous artists from New Zealand and the Pacific to immerse himself in the practice of whakairo(carving), where he will have the chance to learn new approaches and worldviews.

Joe is a respected figure in the arts community of Bougainville, where he has dedicated over 25 years to promoting the arts and preserving cultural traditions. Since returning from the Solomon Islands at the end of the Bougainville Crisis, he has worked tirelessly to mentor local youth, using the arts to foster spiritual peace and economic independence.

Joe’s deep connection to New Zealand further enriches this visit, as he is a longtime partner of Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA), having worked with numerous VSA volunteers in Bougainville.

The Ngākau Carving Symposium in Thames is an annual gathering of indigenous artists, where participants engage in hands-on carving workshops and share their cultural practices. The event focuses on preserving and evolving Māori carving techniques, while also encouraging a global exchange of artistic knowledge.

As part of his time in New Zealand, Joe will have the opportunity to collaborate with Māori artists and other Pacific carvers, enriching his craft and broadening his understanding of indigenous art forms.

"I am excited to learn and exchange knowledge at the Ngākau Carving Symposium," Joe says. "This is not only a chance for me to learn but also to bring back valuable skills and insights to share with my community in Bougainville. I am proud to represent Bougainville and our traditions on this international stage."

In addition to the symposium, Joe’s visit includes two weeks of visits to iwi throughout Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty. There, he will engage with local carvers, showcasing different techniques and approaches to carving, while also exploring the intersection of art, culture, and tourism.

Upon his return to Bougainville, VSA will support Joe to conduct a series of community workshops across the region, offering presentations about his time in New Zealand, live carving demonstrations, and the distribution of carving tools to local youth.

The workshops aim to inspire a new generation of artists and foster cohesion among Bougainville’s diverse communities. Local media and government representatives will be invited to showcase the cultural exchange between New Zealand and Bougainville, highlighting the role of arts in sustainable development.

Joe’s participation in the Ngākau Carving Symposium is supported by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA).

VSA’s Bougainville Programme Manager, Matt Lambie, shares, "Joe is an ideal ambassador for this cultural exchange. His work not only represents the best of Bougainville’s artistic traditions, but he also plays a key role in promoting sustainable development through art and tourism. We’re proud to support this exciting initiative, which will strengthen ties between Bougainville and New Zealand for years to come."

Peter Zwart, New Zealand High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, noted that “New Zealand is excited to support this unique initiative that fosters artistic and cultural ties through indigenous art. Joe’s participation at the at the Ngākau Carving Symposium offers not only opportunities for Joe, but for Bougainville and wider Papua New Guinea communities who will benefit from Joe’s experiences and learnings when he returns”.

© Scoop Media