Out & About

Wearable arts celebrates Matariki

July 4, 2019

exp04matarikiwa1 — Kaydence Stowers in "Hiwa I Te Rangi Tatai Ara Wawata" created by Te Kohanga Reo from Nga Hau E Wha, who received third place in the Mokopuna Section at the Matariki Wearable Arts show, held at the Murihiku Marae in Invercargill on Friday night. Photo: Abbey Palmer

RINGING in the Maori New Year with style – The Murihiku Marae lit up on Friday night for the Matariki Wearable Arts show in Invercargill.

Southland-based friends and whanau (family) gathered at the marae on Friday night to celebrate New Zealand’s Maori history and its future as part of this years’ Matariki festival.

From all around Southland and Nelson, there were 19 entries and 9 kakahu (garments) exhibited in the show.

The idea to launch the show came from around 30 members of The Maori Women’s Welfare League (MWWL), community members and whanau who wanted to provide an opportunity for the community to come together for Matariki.

Nevaeh Dunn in “Tieke” created by Trish Young, who entered her piece in the Open Section at the Matariki Wearable Arts.

MWWL secretary Danette Pikia said many people had come together to work tirelessly on bringing the catwalk show to life.

“We wanted to encourage people to go back to traditional forms of arts and crafts and to get the community involved.”

Artists were asked to create a garment which reflected one of the three “star” categories of the show –– Waita, which is the star associated with the ocean and the many foods of the sea, Tupuanuku, a connection to food grown in the ground, and Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the promise of a prosperous season.

“Hiwa” means “vigorous of growth” and it was to Hiwa that Maori would send their dreams and desires for the year in the hope they would be realised.

All age entries were welcomed, with a mokopuna section for age 6 and below, the rangatahi section for 18 and under, the open section for 19 year olds and above, as well as the peoples’ choices award.

RESULTS

Mokopuna Section winners:

1st place – “Tupuanuku Tatai Ara Whenua” designed by Te Kohanga Reo from Nga Hau E Wha

2nd place – “Ka Moemoea” designed by Samaia Kawe and Nan

3rd place – “Hiwa I Te Rangi Tatai Ara Wawata” designed by Te Kohanga Reo from Nga Hau E Wha

Rangatahi Section winners:

1st place – Miss Kumara Patch designed by Anahera Kini

2nd place – “Te Puhi o te Wai o te Tai” designed by Ruby Coleman

3rd place – Nga Wairua o te Moana designed by Hayden and Grace

Open Section winners:

1st place – “Nekeneke te Kina” designed by Sharne Parkinson

2nd place – “Mai I te Whenua” designed by Bronc Morgan