Sonia Snowden

 

 

 

As a long-serving raranga (weaving) tutor in marae throughout the country, and at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Sonia Snowden has shared the knowledge of Te Whare Pora across several generations of weavers. Becoming a widely recognised master weaver, Sonia is a symbol of Raranga excellence, creating some of the finest high-quality tukutuku, whāriki, kākahu, and kete whakairo. 

A registered ‘Toi Iho’ lifetime-licensed artist and member of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, the class of master Māori weavers, Sonia was acknowledged as the 2019 Ngā Tohu a Tā Kingi Ihaka award recipient by Creative New Zealand. 

Sonia was also the inaugural Ngā Aho Whenua Weavers in Residence at Toi Matarau Gallery in the Māoriland Film Hub, Otaki, an initiative that supports Māori weavers to create new work and engage with the community.