John Freeman is a master sculptor and stone carver

An artist of incredible humbleness, unbeknown to most, he is arguably the most experienced artist working with ancient Kauri, in the world.

John, who is based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, has a worldview that encompasses kindness and the celebration of creative spirit and community. He cares about other artists and values the interconnectedness between all of us and especially with nature.

Through embracing the beauty of being a small part of an infinitely larger universe and the mighty trees that were here, long before us, he transforms the ancient Kauri into another carnation, a symbol of rebirth and resilience.

John’s Kauri Studio on Waiheke Island

In 2002 John purchased the ‘Kiwi dream’ of 2200 sq mtrs of land with a small cottage on Waiheke Island. After many truckloads of ancient kauri deliveries, the Kauri Art studio was opened.

I fell in love with Waiheke and its people. Here I have my working studio and workshop where travellers and tourists can come and buy art pieces as a treasure from New Zealand.

Kauri wood tells a story of its life of some 30,000 yrs ago. Kauri has an outstanding beauty with ‘chatoyant grain patterns’ and colour like no other material. It fulfils a desire to work with a life force that lived and breathed, and had a whole ecological system surrounding it.

My Kauri Art Sculptures combine my passions to create pieces which are timeless and beautiful.

I invite you to visit to appreciate, to learn and if you love it enough, to buy and take home a piece of natural history

John Freeman, Waiheke Island Sculpture Artist and Kauri Wood Specialist

View Kauri Art Pieces

John finally settled in his permanent home on Waiheke Island in 2002, where he has become an important and intrinsic part of the vibrant arts community. Visiting John’s studio is like stepping into a different world, a world of discovering ‘a realm of fallen giants’ as he refers to the ancient Kauri he works with.

Ancient Kauri {Agathis australis} is a taonga (treasure). It is the oldest workable timber on the earth. The giant trees were perfectly preserved under peat moss during the last ice age (tens of thousands of years). John is a kaitiaki (guardian) of this taonga, he has built up a reserve of the wood over the past 40 years, saving much of it from rot or worse – being used for firewood.

John knows he is incredibly fortunate to be able to work with such a precious gift from nature and is respectful of this resource, protecting the wood, revealing the grain and giving it new life.

Ancient Kauri ovoid with 'dragonscale' colour finish
In 2020 John’s studio workshop caught fire causing extensive damage. Many pieces of Kauri became heavily burnt and charred. One of the effects of this was the colouration to the wood and the charr. This effect left the wood displaying a range of colours that had naturally occurred.

John was inspired by this and has recently been developing a new range of ‘shou sugi ban‘ Ancient Kauri work treated with a ‘dragonscale’ colour finish.
Stone carving workshop on waiheke

Stone Carving Workshop

with respected NZ sculptor, John Freeman

things to do on waiheke

A great alternative to vineyards or beaches – stone carving workshop.

“We were happy to find something different to do instead of going to the beach or a vineyard. John was super helpful and fun to be around. A great day out for all.”