Kaikōura fashion show

Karen Starkey was named the overall winner at the Kaikōura Matariki fashion show in late June. Here is a small kōrero from her.

The taonga was a moemoeā (dream) to make, using traditional processes with a modern and contemporary twist.

My mother, Lexie Starkey made the taonga I call, Mana Tāne from fibre and feathers for the opening of Ōmaka Marae. This was  a very long process and it was a dream that her whānau would continue this mahi. This was the traditional taonga that lead us from the old to the new as per the whakaaro of Matariki that I believe in.

I started with Whakaareare Mai to clear my thoughts and ideas. This was made using the hapine method but due to time constraints I used modern dyes. The colours I used were gold and blue representing night and day of Matariki rising and the morning.

Then I made Waipunarangi using the pokinikini method. It represents the treasures of Papatūānuku and the rhythm of the seasons where Matariki signals the new year. Both of these were made in the month leading up to the show.

The contemporary korowai, Ki Uta Ki Tai was made in 2010 for the graduation of Hapuka School in Kaikōura. There is beading along the top of korowai and the outlines of the mountains to the sea. The pictures of birds represent birds from around Hapuka and Mangamaunu with a strip of pāua at the bottom as the kai that sustained our tīpuna. I also put in a row of the little blue penguins representing South Bay where my father was as a child.

I would like to give thanks to my mother and Ngaire Kingi for her tautoko and patience as we worked through the making of the taonga; the organisers of the show, the judges, sponsors and Whale Watch for the prize that I won. Thank you all. Nā Karen Starkey.