Whakapapa Quilt Wananga

We are bringing together up to 50 wāhine Māori across two transformative textile art wānanga that honour peace, unity, mātauranga Māori, storytelling, and creativity.

Each wānanga will offer a deeply nurturing space for wāhine to create a small quilt — a love letter to their whānau seven generations down the vine. These quilts will be vessels of story and connection, each one weaving together whakapapa, identity, and aroha.

As the lead artist and facilitator, I will guide participants through the process by sharing the three pou of my art practice — the foundations that sustain my creativity and wellbeing:

• Te Whare Pora – the sacred space of female creative energy
• Hine Te Iwaiwa – atua of weaving, birth, and womanhood
• Waipuna – the spring of life, connection, and flow

Together, we will create safe, mana-enhancing spaces where wāhine can express themselves, honour their ancestors, and pass on their hopes to future generations.

Maungarongo Te Kawa is a celebrated textile artist whose vibrant and uplifting work has earned widespread recognition across Aotearoa New Zealand. He divides his time between creating commissioned pieces, leading community workshops, and developing new works that often feature in regular exhibitions nationwide.

Te Kawa’s art is known for its bold storytelling and powerful cultural narratives, bringing joy and depth to both public and private spaces. His contributions to adult education were honoured with the ACE Aotearoa Educator of the Year Award (2022) for Māori in Adult and Community Education, reflecting his dedication to empowering others through creativity and cultural knowledge.

His works are held in public collections throughout New Zealand, a testament to his impact and significance within the national arts landscape.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own fabric stash to share with others. A limited number of sewing machines will be available for use during the event.

• Ferry & Petrol (Return)
• Kai & Koha for Chef
• Venue Rental 3 nights
• Boosted Fee

This particular wānanga is designed specifically for wāhine Māori who often face barriers to attending due to financial or resource limitations. To ensure accessibility, the wānanga is completely free of charge.

Workshops will be held in central North Island and central South Island locations, making them more accessible to wāhine across different rohe.

Our focus is on creating a safe, inclusive, and mana-enhancing space for wāhine Māori to connect, create, and reclaim cultural knowledge.

I’ve run many wānanga across Aotearoa in the past 3 decades —in schools, kura kaupapa, art galleries, ngos , private business ,  museums, and community spaces. Each one is grounded in kaupapa Māori and supported by local hapū. I don’t just host wānanga—I create safe, empowering spaces where we can connect, learn, and heal together.

This wānanga is for those often overlooked and left out —especially Māori women, the backbone of our communities. Too often they’re the last to be acknowledged, yet  carry so much. This space is about restoring balance. It’s a chance for us to be at the center of our own stories again—to laugh, create, share, and blow off some steam.

We fill our kete with stories of aroha and identity. We reconnect with our pepeha, our whakapapa, our wairua. We pass down not just knowledge, but love—something our mokopuna will feel for generations.

Its time for us to have some fun and exhale , fabric softens the story

When we uplift wāhine, we uplift whānau. And when whānau thrive, communities flourish.