Ratahi Tamatea

Ratahi is a kairaranga (weaver), specialising in Whatu. Her creative journey started at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2019, during which time she started a weaving business focusing on community classes, natural resources, sustainability, and connection to whenua. She is deeply inspired by Te Taiao, passionate about using what is already around her, and continues to uphold values around sustainability by reusing recycled materials and repurposing offcuts and scraps. As well as weaving, she also creates harakeke paper, often from the para of her weaving projects.

“Guided by the principles of kaitiakitanga, my goal is to return to the use of natural, renewable materials — creating art that restores our relationship with Papatūānuku and celebrates the cycles of renewal.”