Māori

Māori weaving and fibre arts

CoverThis page is a brief guide to weaving and fibre art resources at your library.

Harakeke is the Māori name for New Zealand flax or phormium.

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Internet Gateway

Rerehua / Taoka Pūoro
Arts and music websites.

How to weave

Making a putiputi
Guide to making a putiputi (flower) from harakeke.
Stars of Matariki / Ngā whetu o Matariki
Step by step instructions on making a star from harakeke.

Library resources

ImageA Whāriki for Parklands Library
Christchurch City Libraries celebrated Matariki 2005 by weaving a whāriki using harakeke.
Te Manu Tukutuku — the Māori kite
Manu is the word for bird and kite, and tukutuku refers to the winding out of the line as the kite climbs.
Pūawaitanga o te Ringa — Fruits of our busy hands
A book about the series of tukutuku panels that were specially woven as a community project for the Ngā Pounamu Māori Centre.
Tukutuku panels
A gallery of photos of the panels in the Ngā Pounamu Māori Centre.
Weaving art and lives together
An interview with Paula Rigby, skilled harakeke weaver.
Cloaks display
Paula Rigby is a weaver and fibre artist. In this brief piece she describes three of the garments on display at libraries during Matariki 2011
Janet Stewart Reserve
The Janet Stewart Reserve is a place in Otautahi Christchurch where weavers can gather harakeke.