Waihī Beach Weaving Carries Deep Environmental Message

Visitors stepping into Te Ara Mātauranga, the new library, service centre and community hub at Waihī Beach, are welcomed by a striking harakeke weaving that carries a powerful message about kaitiakitanga and the natural world. The piece, named 'Ngā Tikanga o te Taiao' — the rules or guidelines for how people might behave and interact with their natural environment — was created by kairāranga Marino Magee, who grew up in Athenree.

Magee said the work was inspired by three aspects of tikanga: kōrero (talk), karakia (prayer), and koha (gift). The top section in blue represents Ranginui, the sky father, while the bottom green section represents Papatuānuku, the earth mother. Plaits in between represent people and their connection to the taiao, with muka fibre woven through to signify the spiritual connection within all people.

The 24-year-old said their passion for raranga grew while studying Level 4 and 5 Toi Paematua at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Tauranga in 2021. The finished piece took Magee one working week to weave, though the full project — including design, drafting and harvesting harakeke from five bushes — took close to three months. A woven piece donated by Magee was also worn by Waihī Beach primary student Hunter Wilson, aged 9, at the opening of Te Ara Mātauranga on 1 July.

Magee, who now lives in Mount Maunganui, described creating the piece for their home community as an extraordinary experience, noting that raranga and Māori art have become two of their greatest passions.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).