Weaving with our traditional materials is for me an on going craft - fulfilling, adventurous, rewarding and inspiring.

This ancient Maori craft maintains its mystic, mental and physical therapy, just as much today as it would centuries ago.

I learnt this craft from my late mother, Dame Rangimarie Hetet and was encouraged by my father Tuheka.

At the age of 9 years, I completed my first piece of taniko (manual graphic designs) from my mother's left over fibres and at 14 years, I made my first piu piu (Maori flax garment). The taniko piece was gifted to an Uncle and the piu piu to a friend. According to my father this traditional gesture would give me the incentive to master the craft.

Preparation of the natural materials is trying and tedious, a true test of your patience and determination.

My mother would sigh and say "Ma te he ka kitea to tika" (to go wrong you will see what is right), I have used this proverb with my students.

One of the policies of the Maori Women's Welfare League formed in 1951 was to revive the Art of Weaving. My mother and I were asked to teach and with the blessings of our Tribal Kaumatua (elder) we did this.

Emily Schuster of Rotorua as convenor, Karen Waterus of Wellington as Secretary and many other respected weavers throughout New Zealand founded Aotearoa Moananui a Kiwa Weavers. Our first hui was held at Tokomaru Bay, Pakirikiri Marae October 1983.

In 1988 Emily Schuster and I were awarded an Air New Zealand Travel Award which enabled us to visit Museums in England, America and the "Bishop Museum", Hawaii. We were able to view the many cloaks, mats and artefacts of our people. We recorded, photographed and took video footage of as much as could in the six weeks we were away.

Emily Schuster was travelling and teaching until her sudden death October 1997 at the age of 70 years. A great loss to New Zealand.

There are many new hands, new faces, new ideas and new materials, but the traditional weaving techniques and its rewards remain the same with its positive mystique, I will keep weaving for as long as I can.

Diggeress Rangituatahi Te Kanawa
Weaver
September 1998