Ben Jolley

Ben Jolley is a carver of Waikato-Tainui descent, based in Levin. He has 10 years of experience as a qualified residential Builder and completed his Whakairo and Traditional Māori Arts Degree at Whitireia Community Polytech, Porirua.

Sam Hauwaho, a prominent carver, became a key mentor in his whakairo journey, and Ben went on to dedicate himself to whakairo. In many ways, carving has set Ben on a path of stability and given him the grounding to achieve personal and professional goals.

He has further pursued Mātauranga Māori at Te Wānanga ō Raukawa in the Ahunga Tikanga programme, whilst being a father and assisting Sam Hauwaho with whakairo projects where possible. Ben has a diverse skillset, having created taiaha, patu, and weaponry for whānau, poupou, and has also assisted with tukutuku panels for local Porirua projects.