A friend of mine is a kaiako with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Christchurch and I recently asked her to teach me to weave. She told me to find six other people to enrol in the Kāwai Raupapa level 4 class with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Christchurch.
My friend eventually travelled down here with another kaiako from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to enrol us. Eighteen people wanted to enrol and becasue of demand, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has started a level 4 class here in Timaru.
So my Mum and I enrolled, along with many other whānau who whakapapa to Arowhenua. This has been a wonderful time, enjoying the company of our whānau and new friends.
We come to class on Thursday afternoons at Te Aitarakihi Marae and we have 10 noho scheduled for the year. We have learnt so much – woven book covers, rourou, whetū, pop-up kete, kono, kōmore, tātua, tīpare, takaroa, ika, manu, manu tukutuku, poi raupō, pāua shell kete, pākē and pīkau. What a journey of discovery, and still more to learn. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is now looking at running a level 3 class as well as level 4 next year. So if you want to learn to weave, these are the courses for you. Nā Donna Timothy.
Aunty Rawiria Timothy weaving.