Weaving links to whakapapa

A student learning traditional Ma¯ ori raranga says she is connecting with her ancestors, and feels the wairua, or spirit, of her mother when she weaves.

Fiona Mackie has finished three mahi toi, or artworks, for her Level 5 Diploma in Toi Paematua Ma¯ ori and Indigenous Art, in her second year under the guidance of kaiako Margaret Bond.

Mackie displayed her piupiu, or flax skirt, piupiu ka¯ kahu, or flax cloak, and a kete whakairo, or flax basket, this month alongside her classmates at Omaka Marae in Blenheim.

‘‘My decision to work towards this qualification was to learn about my Maori heritage, or whakapapa. Weaving, or raranga, for me is a way of connecting to my cultural heritage,’’ Mackie said.

‘‘Weaving is calming, I feel the wairua, or spirit, of my Mum present when I’m weaving ... My mum passed away in 2017 from cancer. She was awesome, and people say I look like her.’’

Mackie, of Nga¯ti Porou descent and originally from Wellington, said the traditional raranga techniques were not difficult, but following traditional tikanga, or customs and procedure, was a challenge.

Traditional methods included carefully cutting outer leaves from the flax bush, protecting the centre shoot, and stripping edges by hand to produce even lengths of muka, or fibre. For soft, comfortable clothing, the muka was washed, beaten and hand rolled, before the thread was dyed yellow, red-brown or black, or left uncoloured. Traditional dyes were made from tree bark and ash.

Weaving instruction was traditionally given under strict conditions and with much ceremony, including karakea and spiritual learning.

The flax bush was likened to a family, with larger older leaves protecting the young inner leaves, and a Ma¯ ori proverb recommended marrying the woman found in the flax garden – Aitia te wahine i roto i te pa¯ harakeke.

‘‘Raranga is a taonga, or treasure, that needs to be passed on, it is an art form that cannot be forgotten,’’ Mackie said.

Her piupiu ka¯kahu was the most time consuming mahi toi, or artwork, which took Mackie eight months to complete. The piupiu took three weeks, and the kete whakairo took a week.

‘‘My next project I would like to do is a korowai (flax cloak) but that can take up to two years to complete, especially if made in the traditional way,’’ Mackie said.

‘‘I would love to go to the next level and continue my raranga education, for my journey is not over, it has only just begun.’’

SUPPLIED Fiona Mackie has completed a piupiu, or flax skirt, piupiu ka¯kahu, or flax cloak, and a kete whakairo, or flax basket, for her Level 5 Diploma in Toi Paematua Ma¯ori and Indigenous Art.