Kahu Ora Weavers’ Studio 

Come watch as weavers bring the art of Māori cloak-making to life in Kahu Ora | Living Cloaks.

Every Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon until 4pm, a local weaving group will be working in the Weavers’ Studio, at the heart of the exhibition. Each month, a different group will be with us.

Programme

• 8 June – 8 July: Ngā Tapuwae o Hine-te-iwaiwa
• 11 July – 5 August: Raranga Kākahu, Raranga Tangata, Raranga Whakapapa
• 8 August – 2 September: Te Rōpu Miro
• 5–30 September: Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Toi Whakarākai
• 3–21 October: Te Rau o te Rangi

Te Rau o te Rangi

3–21 October

Te Rau o te Rangi was formed about 8 years ago, and is made up of weavers living on the Kapiti Coast, from Paekākāriki to Ōtaki. Our name originates from the body of water between Kapiti Island and the mainland.

Our group works closely with the local community, offering night classes and weekend workshops.

As weavers, it is important that we care for and conserve the resources in our area. With the support of the Department of Conservation and local councils, we’ve participated in plantings of harakeke (New Zealand flax) and pīngao (golden sand sedge).

Photograph by Norm Heke

Te Rōpū Miro

8 August – 2 September

From left: Robin Bargh and Veranoa Hetet (back row), Joy Andersen and Susan Luke (front). Photograph by Norm Heke. Te Papa

The members of Te Rōpū Miro (The Intertwining Thread) work under the guidance of expert weaver Veranoa Hetet in Waiwhetū, Lower Hutt. They meet at least once a month to weave works in both customary and contemporary styles.

Veranoa will be working on a kākahu begun by her mother, renowned weaver Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (1941–2006). The other weavers will each be working on their own cloak.

‘Miro’ refers to the plying of muka (flax fibre) to create a strong thread. The group’s strength lies in the sharing of knowledge that weaving together brings. 
 

Ngā Tapuwae o Hine-te-iwaiwa

Friday 8 June – Sunday 8 July

Back row, left to right: Mary-jane Winiata, Grace Warren, Piata Winitana-Murray
Middle row: Angela Wallace, Marama Ellis, Moana Hilliard, Peggy Warren
Front row: Iwa Hetet, Clare Butler, Kohai Grace, Eileen Kaveney

Ngā Tapuwae o Hine-te-iwaiwa (in the footsteps of Hine-te-iwaiwa) is a group of weaving students and tutors, led by Kohai Grace. The group is based at Hongoeka Marae (Ngāti Toa Rangatira) in Plimmerton and affiliated with Whitireia Polytechnic.

During their time at the Weavers’ Studio, the weavers are working on a kahu huruhuru (feather cloak). Once completed, the cloak will stay at Hongoeka Marae as a cloak for all the hapū (subtribe).

Find out about Ngā Tapuwae o Hine-te-iwaiwa at Whitireia New Zealand

Raranga Kākahu, Raranga Tangata, Raranga Whakapapa

Wednesday 11 July – Sunday 5 August

Mark Sykes, Matthew McIntyre-Wilson, Hiri Crawford, and Sorrel Kemp of Te Rōpū Raranga, 2012. Photograph by Norm Heke. Te Papa

Raranga Kākahu                     Weaving Cloaks
Raranga Tāngata                    Weaving People
Raranga Whakapapa              Weaving Generations

Te Rōpū Raranga (A Weaving Group) is made up of three men and one woman who bring together their own experiences, inspirations, and different mediums of weaving.

Matthew McIntyre-Wilson creates art installations, weaving kākahu (cloaks) from wire. Both Mark Sykes and Hiri Crawford are male weavers who practise an art that has customarily been the domain of women. Sorrel Kemp is a weaving tutor in Porirua.

In this studio, members of the group will be weaving interpretations of kākahu.