Whare, the traditional Maori house, became the prototype for church construction in 19th-century Maori areas in New Zealand, complete with the traditional Maori carving of the wood beams and
rafters. This remarkable architecture, a hybrid of indigenous traditional and the Gothic Revival styles brought by the Protestant English missionaries, receives its first full treatment in this
superb monograph by Sundt (emeritus, architectural history, U. of Oregon, Eugene). Heavily illustrated with b&w and color plates of excellent quality, the study surveys the known examples,
describing in depth the story of their construction, including their builders and carvers, building and decorative styles, the symbolism and meaning of the carvings, and details on financing,
patronage, and use. Heavily researched and beautifully presented, this impressive history connects to fields beyond architectural history, including colonialism, Maori, New Zealand, missions,
and cultural studies. Distributed by Independent Publishers Group. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
