Lee Olsen

Lee is from Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Kahungunu. She has been weaving and using harakeke as an art medium for over fifteen years. Primarily a weaver of kete she has made many other harakake pieces such as whāriki, korowai, pīkau, pākē and piupiu.

Her foray into jewellery began with the desire to re-use toenga (left overs) from mahi raranga.
A self-confessed magpie, many of the materials she uses for jewellery are from recycled products or from nature. Many of the pieces Lee is creating are made from harakeke, muka, recycled rubber, metal, glass and bamboo.