Pakariki Harrison,  stands as a distinguished tohunga of carving, earning recognition as one of the most accomplished individuals of his generation. He is honoured by Toi Iho for his collaborative leadership in designing the Toi Iho Mark.

Born in Ruatoria in 1928, he grew up on the East Coast of the North Island and discovered his passion for Māori carving  while attending Te Aute College in Hawke’s Bay, under the tutelage of mastercarver Pine Taiapa.

Harrison's journey in the 1960s as a young school teacher in Auckland led him to teach carving at night. His commitment to the art extended tocarving the meeting house on Whaiora Marae in Otara over a five-year period. In the 1980s, he transitioned to lecturing at the University of Auckland, ultimately receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Literature in 1991.

Harrison's influence on Māori art extended globally, with exhibitions in Italy, Japan, France, the United States, and Australia. His profound understanding of symbolism in waka taua, wharewhakairo, and kowhaiwhai was a result of extensive research, documented in publications and shared in lectures. The biography "Tohunga Whakairo: Paki Harrison, The Story of a Master Carver" by Ranginui Walker, published in 2008, delves into his immense knowledge and contributions.

Harrison was awarded numerous honours, including the 1997 Te Waka Toi Award, the Queen’s Service Order in 2000, and the designation as a living icon of New Zealand arts in 2005 by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. With his wife Hinemoa, he left a legacy through the construction of ten carved wharenui and his dedication to teaching and researching the art of Māori carving.

‍