Weaving students at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Kawerau are sharing their skills and creativity through an exhibition showcasing 32 pieces of work by 14 students.

The Toi Exhibition Kawerau features work by Level 4 and 5 raranga toi tuira students, with a range of traditional and contemporary weaving on display.

Kaiako Geraldine Karekare said the exhibition was held annually to give students an opportunity to reflect on their progress and see how their skills had developed.

“It’s about allowing them to see what they’ve been able to produce over time and to see the skills evolve,” she said.

Karekare, who has worked with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa for about 17 years, is in her second year teaching in Kawerau after previously working in Whakatāne.

Having been born and raised in the area, she said returning to share her skills with the people of her iwi had been special.

Herweaving journey began with learning from several kaiako before further developing her skills at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Karekare said she studied under renowned weaving tutor Christina Wirihana, where she was introduced to both traditional and contemporary weaving.

Students begin by learning basic weaving techniques, progressing through different patterns and incorporating colour as their confidence and abilities grow.

Level 4 students are guided in their projects, while Level 5 students are given greater freedom to choose what they would like to create.

For Level 4 student Rongomai Hoskin, one of the highlights has been creating a woven panel, which she describes as being like solving a puzzle.

“I enjoyed weaving a panel. It’s like solving a puzzle, working out the pattern and placement of colour and natural fibre,” she said.

Hoskin said she had been drawn to harakeke for a long time and decided to enrol with the support of her whānau.

She said sharing the knowledge and creative process was just as important as the finished work.

Level 5 student Kayah Wana-Harris said creating a tukutuku panel reflecting her maunga, Hikurangi, in Ngāti Porou had been a highlight.

She said weaving had also given her a way to feel spiritually connected to her kuia, whom she had not had the opportunity to meet.

Wana-Harris said she felt proud of the teachings she had gained and being able to give back through her mahi.

The exhibition also highlights the variety of natural materials used in raranga, beyond the familiar harakeke.

Karekare said students had explored materials including pīngao, neinei, tī kōuka (cabbage tree fibre) and corn husks, alongside muka fibre extracted from harakeke.

“It’s about showcasing our materials other than harakeke, which is what most people know,” she said.

The use of different materials introduced students to new textures and possibilities, while they were also encouraged to incorporate contemporary materials into their work.

Students work on projects during regular noho marae, with 10 noho held throughout the year. Students continue their mahi at home between sessions.

The exhibition also reflects the collaborative opportunities available through the programme, with students recently coming together to create work for a wearable arts show.

Karekare said working as a group gave students the opportunity to contribute their skills while building confidence in their abilities.

She said preserving raranga involved more than learning weaving techniques, with students also taught the tikanga surrounding the harvesting, preparation and care of natural materials.

Understanding how to collect and prepare materials, and preserve them so they could be used in their mahi, was an important part of passing the knowledge on.

The exhibition provides an opportunity for students to share their work with whānau and the wider community, while also introducing others to the weaving programme.

The Toi Exhibition Kawerau opened on Monday, and runs until Friday at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Kawerau. Due to roadworks, please use the back entrance off Bledisloe Street.