Art is the soul of culture. This book is an introduction to the art of whakairo rakau (Maori wood carving) from the Tai Tokerau district, the 'Northland' region that stretches from Auckland to the top of the country.  It discusses the characteristics and definitions of the regional style and the debates surrounding provenance, as well as northern carvers and their tools, materials and work. The dynamic history of the practice, including its development, appropriation of European materials and ideas, decline, repression and recent revival, is examined using a wealth of historical resources, and the place of museums and individuals in the collection and renaissance of these taonga (treasures) is critically assessed.  This is followed by a comprehensive illustrated catalogue of Tai Tokerau wood carvings in national and international museums, many of which cannot normally be viewed by the public. The book is a valuable guide for anyone interested in some of the earliest and most beautiful works of Maori craftsmanship.   It is written for the non-specialist reader, although people with a scholarly, professional or cultural relationship with the region and its art will discover more about Tai Tokerau whakairo rakau.