Jim Schuster continues the mahi of his ancestors

Arts and Culture Kaupapa Māori

When James Schuster restores marae taonga using the same chisels his great-great- grandfather once used to carve them, he believes his hands are guided by the tools.

He has dedicated two decades to the ‘feel-good mahi” of restoring marae across New Zealand and the world as part of his work with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga until his retirement in December. It’s work he began in 2003, following nearly 30 years as a school teacher and principal and although he was on a new career journey, it wasn’t a massive leap from what he knew.

James, who is better known as Jim (Te Arawa, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Hinekura, Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Umutahi, Tuwharetoa) comes from a strong line of toi Māori practitioners and finding himself working to restore marae taonga is a form of continuing the mahi of those before him.

His mum Emily Schuster (QSM, OBE) was an internationally renowned master weaver passionate about ensuring the art of raranga was retained across the generations and became the first weaving tutor at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Growing up as one of six children to Emily and Rev Bob Schuster, who was a strong Whakarewarewa rugby supporter, church leader and government ambassador, Jim says he was unknowingly surrounded by his mum’s work.

“I was the only boy in my family, I've got five sisters. We've always been around working with harakeke with kiekie, with all the natural resources that went with mahi raranga,” Jim said.

“Our mum would take us out and we would go out with her to the swamp, and have fun running around in the swamp but we'd be gathering things for her. So we'd be gathering harakeke, we would be gathering raupō, we were climbing trees, having fun climbing trees and picking kiekie for her. We were just having fun in the bush, in the ngahere but all the time we were learning, she was teaching us,” he said.

Jim said the knowledge he gained from simply having fun became useful at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, formerly New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

“That was the matauranga that she passed on to us and really what I'm carrying on today.”

Jim’s great-great grandfather Tene Waitere, was a master carver and many of the marae Jim has helped restore over the years have featured Tene’s carvings.

“When I did restoration work I was actually using his chisels, his whao, to restore carvings that he had done. His chisels were just doing what they did before. I just had to hold on to them and they sort of seemed to know what to do. I guess you always feel that he’s always there guiding your hand.”

Jim had worked as a teacher and principal since 1975 and when the opportunity for a new career path came around, he was ready.

“My wife's first cousin was Dean Whiting, who worked then for New Zealand Historic Places Trust and he was looking for somebody to do restoration work on marae here at Rotoiti.”

He put his hand up and what started out as a contractor role led to a full-time job and spanned into a 20-year career.

“The reason I do it is because it’s feel-good mahi.”

He started with the restoration of marae in Rotorua before working around New Zealand and overseas.

“There are three wharenui outside of New Zealand that I've worked on and . . . Tene Waitere, he carved all three of those houses.”

In his work, Jim says the tupuna of the whare are who he answers to.

“I always feel good about fixing tupuna whare up. The tupuna whare looks after me because I'm helping to fix him up, give him an upgrade, give him a facelift.

“When I finish my work that's required for them the whanau will go on and do other things. It’s going back to see the finished product with all the gardens and the beautiful manicured lawns and the whare stands tall, proud, that’s when I feel really good.”

In 2023 Jim was recognised for his mahi in the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He said he hasn’t been able to read through all of the letters of support for his ONZM because he gets too emotional.

“As I read through all the letters of support for it I couldn't hold back the tears I cried at what people had written about me, for me and I still haven't read them all.”

Although Jim is officially retired, his version of retired means he still helps restore wharenui. He says he still gets calls from people asking for his help, and when he knows his mum had worked on the same marae his retirement is put on the backburner.

“I’m needed to finish what she started.”

In a written statement, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga said Jim had “made a significant contribution to the care and conservation of marae taonga”.

“Jim’s vast repository of knowledge and hands-on expertise in all things related to marae conservation is further enhanced by his willingness to pass on his skills and inspire confidence in others.”