Matauranga Weaving
Marae Workshops & Noho
These marae-based workshops and noho are grounded in the belief that mātauranga Māori is living, relational, and best strengthened within the spaces where whānau, hapū, and iwi come together. They are designed as longer-form, immersive experiences that allow time for learning, practice, and the gentle return of knowledge into the hands of the people.
Held on marae and within whānau environments, these gatherings are not just workshops—they are opportunities to reconnect, to learn through doing, and to support the continuation and growth of weaving knowledge for future generations.
At the heart of this kaupapa is the aspiration to return knowledge back to hapū and iwi, strengthening existing knowledge bases and supporting the ongoing vitality of mātauranga Māori.
Workshop and Noho Formats
These events can be facilitated as noho (overnight stays) and/or structured workshops, depending on the needs and aspirations of the marae or group. The extended format allows for deeper engagement, shared responsibility, and learning that is embedded in everyday marae life.
The most significant offering is the collaborative creation of a kākahu for the marae, woven as a collective whānau journey. This process includes the full lifecycle of the work:
Harvesting and preparation of materials
Learning and preparing muka
Hands-on whatu practice
Collaborative design and weaving as a shared expression of identity and place
This kaupapa is intentionally slow, grounded, and intergenerational—honouring the depth of skill and knowledge held within each community.
Additional Pathways for Noho
Alongside kākahu weaving, a range of complementary workshops are available, including:
Raranga noho – creating kete, pikau, and traditional basketry forms
Introduction to tāniko – foundational patterns and techniques
Regional weaving knowledge – exploring how patterns, styles, and tikanga differ across iwi and rohe, and the whakapapa behind them
Bird pelt and feather work exercises – guided learning supported by access to DOC permissions
Feather handling and preparation practices, where appropriate to kaupapa and tikanga
As part of this work, I hold a Native Bird Handling Licence, which enables careful, ethical, and permitted engagement with materials associated with taonga species. All work is undertaken with strict adherence to tikanga, conservation responsibilities, and the authority of the marae and community involved.
Kaupapa and Intent
This work is deeply personal and grounded in a commitment to the upliftment of mātauranga Māori. As a practitioner, my role is not to replace or redefine knowledge, but to help create space for it to be remembered, strengthened, and passed on within the communities to which it belongs.
Each noho or workshop is shaped in partnership with the marae, ensuring that the process reflects local tikanga, priorities, and aspirations. The emphasis is always on whakawhanaungatanga, shared learning, and the strengthening of intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Pricing
Facilitator fee: $3,500
Travel and marae per diems to be negotiated.
