About
E pūawai mai nei te ata hua ki rangi
ki runga i te tihi tapu o Rangiuru
Ka tirikohu iho taku haere ki ngā wai kaukau o Kaituna
E rere kōpikopiko ana
Ki te kuku o te manawa ki te marae o Ngāti Moko
I pepehatia ake e ko Te Arawa
E ko Tapuika te tū ake nei
E ko Ngāti Pākehā te mihi atu nei
I whakataukītia ake te kōrero
He aroha whakatō he aroha ka puta mai
Ko Colin rāua ko Barbara ōku mātua
Ko John taku hoa rangatira
Ko Wi Heketa tōku tama
Ko Te Pakihooro tōku tamahine
Ko Hera Kendal taku ingoa
Sarah began her raranga journey in 2022 when she enrolled in Kāwai Raupapa: Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art (Level 4) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. This course is based at Omaka marae in Wairau (Blenheim).
Sarah was taught by Master Weaver, Margaret Bond; better known as Nanny Marg, who she continues to learn from.
During the course she learnt about:
- Māori patterns and designs
- Time and project management skills
- Technical skill in ngā mahi ā te whare pora – mahi raranga, whatu, taniko, tukutuku
- Working with fibres – harakeke
- Other toi practitioners
- Rangahau (research)
- History, tikanga and cultural practices relating to toi
Her love of weaving was inspired by her friend, colleague and mentor, Whaea Louisa King. And also her desire to re-create a kete belonging to Nanny Mariao Wihapi, which was gifted to her by John’s uncle, Tony Wihapi, when Nanny passed in 2006.
This year Sarah has enrolled in Toi Paematua: Diploma in Māori and Indigenous Art (Level 5) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, as she plans to learn the art of weaving whāriki. Her wish is to create a whāriki for Ngāti Moko, so that it may be used in the whare nui - Moko Tangata o Kotahi.
Her ultimate goal, in the future, is to open a Māori Design store.
Sarah is married to John (Tapuika) and together they have two grown children: Wi Heketa and Te Pakihooro.
