Upcoming Event
Opening: Āhuataka: A Wānaka of Kāi Tahu Woven Adornment
Image caption: A selection of whakakai woven by Ereni Pūtere that will be on display in the exhibition.
16.10
5:30pm
This special exhibition celebrates the living practice of traditional Māori weaving founded in ancestral connection and cultural continuity.
Kai kā taura takata, kai kā taukaea aroha, tēnei rā mātau o Toi Moroki e owha atu nei. Nau mai, tauti mai ki te wānaka o Āhuataka!
Please join CoCA Toi Moroki whānau and CoCA’s 2025 Emerging Curator Dr Ereni Pūtere (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha – Moeraki, Te Ātiawa o Taranaki – Ngāti Rāhiri), for the opening of Āhuataka: A Wānaka of Kāi Tahu Woven Adornment.
The exhibition brings together a wānaka (community) of Kāi Tahu arts practitioners, including Paula Rigby (Kāi Tahu – Kāi Tūāhuriri, Moeraki, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāi Tūhoe), Fayne Robinson (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Porou), Isaac Te Awa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha – Awarua, Ngāpuhi) and Ereni Pūtere.
Together, the practitioners share how whakakai (adornments) are crafted with ancestral methods to represent whakapapa (ancestral connection) and cultural identity in Māori personal dress. Their whakakai will stand alongside taoka tipuna (ancestral treasures) held by Canterbury Museum.
With special guest Ruby Solly (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe – Waihao) musician, taoka pūoro practitioner, music therapist and writer. They will respond to the work in Āhuataka: A Wānaka of Kāi Tahu Woven Adornment by creating an āhuru mōwai of cello, poetry and taoka pūoro.
Opening event
5.30 pm, Thursday 16 October
Āhuataka: A Wānaka of Kāi Tahu Woven Adornment runs from 17 October until 9 November.
Image caption: A selection of whakakai woven by Ereni Pūtere that will be on display in the exhibition.
