Explore the Workshops
Explore Purewa’s range of workshops designed to support your weaving journey.
“Māori weaving workshops offer a fun, hands-on and culturally rich experience.
They bring people together through creativity, connection and shared discovery.
These workshops are welcoming, engaging and accessible to all.”- PUREWA
harakeke processing +
contemporary whatu +
harakeke bouquets +
woven pieces +
traditional & modern approaches +
harakeke processing + contemporary whatu + harakeke bouquets + woven pieces + traditional & modern approaches +
Upcoming
Workshops
Due to popular demand and limited spaces, Purewa is hosting a second workshop.
Join one of Aotearoa’s most prominent Muka/Raranga artists in an interactive workshop showcasing her prestigious career with insight into traditional Toi Māori.
21st & 22nd March
11am - 1pm
Aotearoa New Zealand
“Purewa is a patient and gentle kiako.
Thank you for this opportunity.”
- Sheryl B.
“My children loved the workshop with Purewa. They were so proud of the work they made, and I loved how considerate, encouraging, and engaging Purewa was with them.”
- Sophi R.
Workshops
A range of workshop options are available, guiding participants through harakeke processing for raranga and whatu muka, as well as contemporary whatu using synthetic textiles. Participants can also create beautiful harakeke bouquets and woven pieces, exploring both traditional and modern approaches to making.
Beyond the practical experience, each workshop weaves in kōrero around the stories, tikanga, and history behind Māori weaving, with opportunities for open discussion and Q&A.
The atmosphere is relaxed, inclusive, and rewarding—encouraging laughter, learning, and a meaningful connection to culture, with each participant leaving with something special they’ve created themselves.
Ideal for:
Team building
Museum and gallery events
Group experiences
Beginners and those with some knowledge
Workshop experiences include:
Harakeke processing for raranga and whatu muka
Contemporary whatu using synthetic textiles
Creating harakeke bouquets
Weaving beautiful and practical pieces
What you’ll gain:
Insight into stories, tikanga and the history of Māori weaving
Engaging kōrero and opportunities for Q&A
A relaxed and inclusive environment
A rewarding creative experience
Enjoy laughter, learning, and a deeper connection to culture.
Leave with something meaningful that you have created yourself.
Scroll down to discover our range of workshops available, tailored to your skill level and budget.
Tamariki & Rangatahi Workshops
Creative learning through Toi Māori, connection, and hands-on making
Our workshops are designed to inspire creativity, cultural understanding, and confidence through hands-on artistic practice grounded in Te Ao Māori. Delivered in schools, community spaces, and holiday programmes, each session is carefully tailored to support learning through making, storytelling, and collaboration.
Tamariki Workshops
(Ages 7 - 12)
Perfect for schools, holiday programmes, and community events, these workshops introduce tamariki to foundational art-making skills while exploring Māori patterns, materials, and creative expression.
Learning through play, creativity, and cultural connection
Ringa Iti – Tiny Hands
An introduction to Māori patterns and creative paper arts.
Tamariki will explore:
Basic Māori pattern design and visual storytelling
Paper weaving techniques
Simple numeracy concepts through pattern and repetition
Creative self-expression using colour, shape, and design
Materials: Paper, card, glue
Cost: $80–$100 per hour (fees can be negotiated)
Whetū Itiiti – Little Stars
A gentle introduction to traditional harakeke weaving.
Tamariki will learn to:
Work with harakeke safely and respectfully
Weave simple shapes such as fish, stars, and bracelets
Understand basic tikanga (customs) around harakeke use
Develop patience, focus, and fine motor skills
Materials: Harakeke and tools
Cost: $80–$100 per hour (fees can be negotiated)
What Tamariki Will Learn
Across all workshops, tamariki will develop:
Creativity and self-expression
Confidence through hands-on making
Early understanding of Māori art forms and cultural knowledge
Foundational skills in a fun, supportive learning environment
Rangatahi Workshops
(Ages 13+)
These workshops are designed for secondary students, alternative education settings, and youth community programmes. They focus on Tuakana–Teina (Ako mai, Ako atu) learning relationships, where knowledge is shared through doing, reflection, and collaboration.
Creative exploration, identity, and collaborative making
Creative Pathways in Toi Māori
Rangatahi will engage in thoughtfully designed learning experiences, including:
Paper weaving & pattern design
Exploring Māori visual language, geometry, numeracy, and graphing through creative practiceLarge-scale collaborative artworks
Group projects that build communication, teamwork, and shared creative ownershipHarakeke weaving introduction
Learning tikanga, preparation, and weaving techniques to create items such as:Bracelets
Flowers and decorative forms
Kono (traditional baskets)
Each workshop is tailored to suit the needs, interests, and strengths of each group.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Develop understanding of Toitanga (artistic practice) through making and responding
Explore symbolism, pattern, and visual language within Toi Māori
Build practical skills in design, composition, and material use
Reflect on their creative process and outcomes
Key Competencies Developed
Students will strengthen:
Thinking – creative problem-solving and design decision-making
Using language, symbols, and texts – interpreting and creating visual patterns
Managing self – completing structured, hands-on projects
Relating to others – working collaboratively in group settings
Participating and contributing – engaging meaningfully in shared creative practice
Pricing
$100–$160 per hour (fees can be negotiated depending on programme size and context)
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.
Bespoke Workshops
All workshops are tailored to suit your group, space, and kaupapa. Pricing is flexible and confirmed in consultation to ensure the best experience for your participants.
Adult Workshops
Half-day workshops (up to 3 hours)
Full-day workshops (up to 6 hours)
Team building and group packages available
Tamariki Workshops
Short sessions (1–2 hours)
Half-day workshops
Full-day programmes for schools and holiday initiatives
What pricing includes:
Facilitator fees
Materials and resources
Workshop planning and delivery
Please note:
Pricing is by negotiation, depending on group size, location, and workshop type
Travel may be additional for out-of-town bookings
Custom workshop packages available on request
Get in touch to create a workshop experience that suits your needs and budget.
Workshop experiences include:
Harakeke processing for raranga and whatu muka
Contemporary whatu using synthetic textiles
Creating harakeke bouquets
Weaving beautiful and practical pieces
What you’ll gain:
Insight into stories, tikanga and the history of Māori weaving
Engaging kōrero and opportunities for Q&A
A relaxed and inclusive environment
A rewarding creative experience
Enjoy laughter, learning and a deeper connection to culture.
Leave with something meaningful that you have created yourself.
Get In Touch
Whether you're interested in upcoming workshops or keen to organise a bespoke group workshop, let’s kōrero.
Fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch.
