PAPA is a vibrant fusion of performance, music, weaving and fashion, brought to life by the talented weavers’ collective, Te Puāwai Raranga. Showcasing the work of both emerging and experienced weavers, the red carpet of Kāhui St David’s Great Hall becomes the ultimate fashion runway for models to parade their wearable artworks.

This FREE Matariki event is hosted in partnership between Te Puāwai Raranga and Kāhui St David’s Centre for Music and the Performing Arts.

New, and the most experienced, weavers share their creations, exploring traditional, plant-based practices and up-cycled materials including plastic blinds, cable ties, fast-fashion and recycled garments, to celebrate Māori art and culture and to raise awareness of the need for environmental change.

The name PAPA comes from Papatuanūku (Earth Mother) and Whakapapa (genealogy), which are interconnected. Te Whaea Witika, Te Puāwai kaitārai, says “PAPA is designed to inspire our younger and future generations to nurture our environment and to motivate them to keep up the practice of the old ways of using natural resources”.

Witika says the group has to travel outside Tāmaki to gather the natural resources for weaving. “Climate change is affecting where we can harvest our resources and now we have to whakawhanaungatanga with other iwi to source the material for our work”.

This event is now at capacity. Please join our Mailing List if you’d like to know about future events.