Jacque Hastings

A Life Working With Wood

By Richard Moore

Jacque Hastings has worked with wood all her life and has a deep affinity with the kauri and puriri she now shapes.

Possibly that is understating her love for wood – her email name is woodfreak47.

Jacque is a Tainui and has always lived in Northland. Since retiring she has been spending her time carving Maori weapons and other articles – such as a wooden cloak.

So what did she do before retiring?

Jacque ran her own sawmill, of course, making outdoor furniture.

Then she got sick and at 60 sold the sawmill so she could make smaller things. 

“This is retirement, although I don’t call it that.”

Jacque makes Maori weapons and articles from kauri. 

“I make four patu (club) weapons and a cloak in a week.

“The kauri can be unforgiving. Puriri wood is forgiving … it’s easy to sand and comes up beautifully. Kauri is more difficult because of its strength and hardness.

“You have to fight with its nature and it is susceptible to scratching and if you dig into the wood it is very hard to sand out.”

Jacque uses hand chisels and power tools to shape her creations.

Every now and again Jacque returns to make big furniture as gifts for people, but she likes the beauty of her smaller artworks.

“I feel enjoyment when I see something come out of my hands that is beautiful.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist … I give a lot of seconds away.”

Well, Jacque – here is my address!

- Richard Moore

CONTACT:

Jacque Hastings
c/o Tuatara Design Store.