Muka Reflections

Nō Ngāti Manomano me Ngāti Te Au a Pip. Currently, Pip is a recipient of the first Ngā Aho Whenua weavers’ residency in the Toi Matarau Gallery at Māoriland alongside Sonia Snowden. Harakeke and Muka are the fibres she generally weaves with and has taught with when she was a tutor at Te Wānanga o Raukawa for the Toi Whakarākai programme. Early influencers were her tūpuna kuia Rangimahora Reihana Mete and Ranginui Parewahawaha Leonard. Pip’s idea is to make a ‘new’ style of kete to celebrate the start of a new weaving journey at Māoriland as one of the Ngā Aho Whenua resident weavers - Raranga mai, whiri mai; Ngā Aho Whenua Weaving Residency Series 1; Kete Mata Tauaro #1 #2 #3. A square piece of weaving can have tāpiki (cast off technique) on all edges and whiri (plaiting) to bring edges together. This whiri part of the weave is mad! Casting off from the whiri results in the fringed edges. Kete Mata Tauaro reflect the juxtaposition of the two main woven surfaces. This technique acknowledges Wainui, home and nurturer to Harakeke and Te Moananui a Kiwa, home of the whiri.