On Monday 24 November, members of Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka went to Te Hīkoi Museum in Riverton/Aparima, to greet Rangi Te Kanawa, from Te Papa Museum.
Rangi was in Riverton helping with the assessment and restoration work that had to be carried out on hand woven korowai, made by local Māori up to 150-years-ago. These korowai will be displayed in an exhibition that starts in December 2015.
Te Hīkoi currently has eight woven korowai at the museum some of which, have been on display before but are now in need of restoration. Whānau are encouraged to bring their taonga into the museum for assessment and advice on care and restoration.
From left, Rangi Te Kanawa, Stewart Bull and Lynley McKay. Photo courtesy of Dean Karauria.