Mick Pendergrast circa 2000 Few books on Māori material culture have had the quiet, lasting influence of Raranga Whakairo: Māori Plaiting Patterns by Mick Pendergrast. First published in 1984, Raranga Whakairo documented more than 200 traditional Māori plaiting patterns gathered from woven objects throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For weavers, artists, museums, libraries, collectors and students of Māori fibre arts, it became one of the essential reference works on raranga, kete whakairo and...

Hei Tiki at Kiwa Art - a powerful good luck symbol Te Hei Tiki Hand-carved and deeply treasured, hei tiki are among the most precious Māori taonga (treasures). These heirloom pieces are carefully protected and passed down through generations, carrying the stories, memories, and spiritual presence of revered ancestors. More than any other form of taonga, hei tiki often hold a strong emotional connection for their owners and families. The word hei refers to an ornament worn around the neck,...

What is Tapa Cloth? Tapa cloth, or simply ‘tapa’, is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The term ‘tapa’ is...