Our Rōpū/Team
Damian Mackie
Director, Lead Designer
Ko Whakaarara to maunga
Ko Kopua Kauau te awa
Ko Matauri te moana
Ko Ngāpuhi te whare tupuna
Ko Ngāti Kura te hapū
Kō Tapui te marae
Born in Wakatipu and a descendant of Ngāti Kura, Damian’s kaupapa toi skill set encompasses Whakairo, Ta Moko and Rauangi (visual art).
Damian is a graduate of Maunga Kura Toi, Bachelor of Māori Art – Whakairo, and has been employed as Kaiwhakairo at the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust.
Raised in Hornby, Ōtautahi, Damian was introduced to whakairo at school and developed his ability to draw Mahi Toi from a young age, before learning the craft of Ta Moko and later being given the opportunity to study whakairo at Northtec, Whangarei.
As a young tāne Damian has represented Aotearoa in Rugby League playing in Australia and England. He has held a variety of roles during his working career and holds two trade qualifications and experience working in the safety industry both in Australia and Aotearoa.
‘”I feel very fortunate to be employed as a Kaiwhakairo at the Whakaraupō Carving Centre a supporting and upholding the mana of our people through mahi toi”
Shaun Hardcastle
Managing Director
Born and raised in Yorkshire, educated in Harrogate, York and Edinburgh. This led to working in the UK, Hong Kong and throughout Europe applying his civil and transportation engineering skills. The call to New Zealand was answered in 2001. Shaun has worked throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia and South Africa since then but his travelling stopped in 2011 and focus was upon his home town of Christchurch.
The other passion was waka ama which led to being involved with the national body governance team from 2006 until 2010. This period saw the transition from amateur regional focus to professionally run national body, a lot of lessons learnt in governance, communication, pathways, vision setting, leadership and good book keeping.
Working on the post earthquake Christchurch rebuild up to 2015 was rewarding, challenging, engaging and emotional. The opportunity came to step away from civil and transportation engineering presented itself and thus started a journey of venture start ups, karate and charity work.
The skills learnt in running business, start ups, finance, business planning, governance and leadership are now in full use with the directorships in numerous companies, running of a karate Dojo in Diamond Harbour and being Treasurer for the Diamond Harbour Cat Rescue Charity. Combining all of these skills with art, education and our gorgeous harbour, working with the Whakaraupō Carving Centre Trust is a privilege.