© Ngahina Hohaia
»The art of Māori Tāniko«
Co-Curator
Te Miringa Hohaia (Taranaki Tuturu and Taranaki Whaanui)
Researcher and author and he is a traditional custodian (kaitiaki) of Parihaka meeting house Te Pae Pae)
Concept
The idea of the exhibition about the Art of Parihaka rose shortly after my first contact in 2002 with the community of parihaka and after viewing the unique art work of Ngahina Hohaia. During my work at the Puke Ariki Museum (former Taranaki) as Manger for Exhibition and Research and later as Exhibition Designer I was allowed to visit Parihaka on several occasions and to meet the people.
The History of Tāniko
Flax weaving and trading
The art of Tāniko Weaving
Ngahina Hohaia biography and the art of tāniko weaving
Ngahina Hohaia in her house at Parihaka Pā © by T. Hohaia
Ngahina Hohaia was born at Parihaka Paa in 1925.
She is a descendant of the tribes of Taranaki.
She pased away in Februar 2009 in the age of 84 at Parihaka Pā
Obituary:
Ma wai ra e taurima
te marae i waho nei?
Ma te tika
ma te pono
me te aroha e.
Noho au i taku whare
whakarongo ki te tangi
o te manu
rere i runga
rere waho e
Nga wawata, nga roimata
i maringi ki te pa
Hei aha
hei ua rangi
me te aroha e?
Tangihia au tinei
kua riro koutou;
ki te iwi
ki te rangi
ki te Atua e.
Ma wai ra e taurima
te marae i waho nei?
Ma te tika
ma te pono
me te aroha e.
Ngahina received a primary school education at nearby Pungarehu school where has abilities were recognised by a vigilant and unusual school headmaster. He found a bursary for Ngahina and she was sent to a catholic Boarding school for her high school education. It was here that she learned the arts of tāniko weaving from a school friend. The art form was not however a part of the schools curriculum.
Ngahina has continued the art form on ever since and has built up an extensive collection of her works spanning over 60 years.
Her patterns are all derived from influences around her own tribes histories but are composed entirely by her as a weaver.
Ngahina received much acclaim for her work when it was featured in the highly acclaimed Exhibition and accompanying book of the same name »Parihaka The Art Of Passive Resistence« at City Gallery Wellington (NZ) in 2000-2001.
Ngahina was the only woman of her generation and the only Parihaka woman to have practised the art of tāniko weaving through out her life.
Her collection has been praised by Art Historian and Tapesrties expert Dr. Johnathan Mane Wheoki as being a National Treasure.
The collection has been offered up for sale to the National Museum, Te Papa Tonga Rewa to be held for public exhibition.
Tāniko by Ngahina Hohaia © by T. Hohaia
The art of tāniko
Tāniko is a distinct traditional maori tapestry art form. Threads of flax fibre were the traditional materials but contemporary applications utilizes fine linen threads. The weaving is done entirely by hand, comprising combinations of mathmaticly devised twists cross overs and knots to produce distinct traditional patters. The taniko textiles produced in this way were used to ploace beautiful borders on superior cloaks and sashs worn by chiefs and those in authority. It was also used to create fine bags or borders on bags abd to decorate other special items which might be used as covers for heirlooms and other fine icons.
Although the art form is still popular and attracts such admiration, many weavers prefer to leave it to the deft handed and to the patient as it is extremely time consuming. Tāniko products are by far the most expensive woven article to purchase, given that the product is even available for purchase.
For further information on the exhibition project please contact Benjamin Ochse.
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