Tahaa

James Webster is of Maori and European descent and is well known as a talented Maori arts practitioner, working with many mediums including wood, bone and stone (sculpting and carving) as well as paint, fibre and metal (mixed media) and Ta Moko (body adornment / tribal tattoo).

Residing in Aotearoa / New Zealand Jame's tribal affiliations are Tainui, Te Arawa and Pakeha.

James is based in Whitianga-a-Kupe and is the owner/operator of the Tahaa, Tamoko Studio and Maori Arts.

James has been working in the arts industry for over 18 years as a freelance multi-disciplined artist specialising in sculpture and working in the fields of carving (bone, stone and wood), painting and other mixed-media creations.  James also works as a Tamoko (Maori tattoo) artist and is a maker and player of Taonga Puoro (Maori musical instruments)

James acquired a Studio Certificate from Toihoukura, Te Tairawhiti Polytechnic, Gisborne. 1998  

James has a Bachelor of Arts, Te Maunga Kura Toi,  (with excellence) in Whakairo Rakau (Maori Wood carving) from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, under the tutelage of Dr Paakaariki Harrison and Professor Kereti Rautangata. 

 One of Websters passions is the making and playing of Taonga Puoro (singing treasures / Maori Musical Instruments). Taonga Puoro, like the Maori language, reflects the sounds and rythms of nature and the environment. One of the traditional uses of taonga puoro was in the art of healing through music. These traditional instruments have whakapapa (genealogy) and purakau (origin stories). 

Over the past 30 years there has been a revival of the craft of Taonga Puoro. Webster is a member of the group Haumanu which is dedicated to the revival - teaching and sharing of these taonga through instrument making and musical and artistic performances.

 Webster has performed in concerts as well as conferences and tutored at Wananga (places of learning) in Aotearoa and abroad. He was a member of the Aotearoa delegation at the 9th/10th Pacific Arts Festivals 2004/2008.