Raranga toi tuira (weaving students) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa are putting the finishing touches to their work ahead of their annual exhibition, which this year will feature a wearable raranga showcase.

The He Raranga Toi Exhibition will display work created throughout the year by Level 4 and 5 students tutored by Dr Lisa McKendry.

The exhibition will run from November 2 to 6, with a special evening of woven wearable art on November 3.

Jacqueline McRae-Tarei, manager of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Whakatāne, said the wearable raranga event would feature a catwalk, music and costumes created through raranga (weaving).

“We’ve also invited other people in the community to take part in the wearables and bring new costumes along to the event,” she said.

“It will have the catwalk going and music, and we’ve invited the whole community to come and have a look at the beautiful work that has been created – it’s all woven wearable costumes.”

The showcase will run from 6pm to 8pm on the Tuesday night, with free entry.

McRae-Tarei hopes the exhibition will encourage more people to visit the wānanga, which is situated in an industrial area, and discover the work being produced there.

The exhibition is open to the public from 10am to 6pm each day, with the wearable raranga showcase providing an additional opportunity to celebrate the creativity and skill of the students and community participants.

He Raranga Toi Exhibition

■ When: Monday, November 2, to Friday, November 6

■ Exhibition hours: 10am-6pm

■ Wearable raranga showcase: Tuesday, November 3, 6pm-8pm

■ Where: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 8 Te Tahi Street, Whakatāne

■ Entry: Free