Nau Mai Haere Mai

Tēnā koe,
We're glad you’re here, and we're happy to share as much about ourselves as you’d like to know. But instead of telling you about how our whānau have been weaving and carving for generations, let’s talk about what you really want to know:

How we can help you reclaim Māori art traditions for yourself and your whānau.

We spent decades as a whānau, teaching ngā mahi toi in various settings: on marae-based training schemes, at Wānanga, at the Institute of Māori Arts and Crafts, at the Open Polytechnic of NZ and more . . . but we found that these government funded institutions and programmes restricted the way we believe ngā mahi toi should be taught.

We prefer a style of teaching and learning that is more aligned with traditional ways:

• One-to-one 
• When the student is ready
• In tune with the seasons
• Encouraging self-discovery
• Developing mastery
• Focused on practice rather than theory

Tauira Achieve
Tino rangatiratanga 
in ngā mahi a te whare pora 

Our goal is to enable those who learn with us to become highly skilled and knowledgeable weavers.

Weavers who have the confidence and know-how to create whatever taonga they dream of; to be able to sell their mahi to support their whānau if they want to, and more importantly, to pass these traditions on to their tamariki and mokopuna, when the time is right.

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, you don't really care about receiving a certificate or degree in Maori Art.  The reason why you're seeking this knowledge is to be able to actually create taonga that connects you and your whānau to your tupuna.

Knowing the tikanga and how to apply Māori values appropriately in your weaving life is important to you.

Being able to master the traditional techniques at a high level of excellence is something you strive for.

Being able to weave for the well being of yourself and your whānau is ultimately what motivates you.

We want to help you reclaim this mātauranga for your own whānau so that it becomes a living part of the whakapapa of your uri.

Pictured: Soraya McConachy and her daughter Dara Barton weaving together

What's Different About How We Teach?

We follow 'The Matrix™' which is a specific series of lessons, taught in a very special way. It was developed by  Erenora Puketapu-Hetet and her daughter, Veranoa Hetet.

For decades, our Mum and Veranoa have used The Matrix™ to successfully guide hundreds of students on a journey of self discovery and mastery through the traditional Māori weaving techniques. 

The Matrix™ begins with the gathering and preparation of harakeke (NZ flax) and progresses from Raranga (Māori basketry) to Taaniko, then on to Whatu Kākahu and the weaving of several traditional garments including Korowai.

The Matrix™ is a proven method that equips the weaver with the values, skills, understanding and confidence they need to weave the range of traditional techniques and to adapt them so they can weave almost any item they imagine.