Tracey weaves a new way forward
Raranga kaiako Tracey Robens, pictured here helping one of her students, says her art provides her with spiritual space.
Ko Rangitūmau te maunga
Ko Ruamahanga te awa
Ko Kurahaupo te waka
Ko Rangitane te iwi
Ko Te Ore Ore marae
Ko Ngāti Te Korou te hapū
“I think raranga finds you,” says raranga kaiako Tracey Robens.
“Weaving is a place that allows the weaver to navigate an indigenous cultural space that is interconnected with nature, spirituality and creativity,” she says.
“It is an art form that allows for knowledge to be passed down but also discovered in today’s world.”
Tracey is one of three raranga kaiako at the Waiwhero campus in Rotorua, along with her colleagues Margaret Belshaw and Cori Marsters.
Margaret and Tracey have completed their Masters of Applied Indigenous knowledge with Te Wānanga O Aotearoa and Cori won the 2016 Te Waka Toi award. He has also exhibited his work nationally as well as internationally.
Between them they teach tauira (students) from beginners to degree level.
After shifting to Rotorua from the Wairarapa in 2007, following a long time living overseas, Tracey belives that raranga found her. She enrolled in a one day a week raranga course, under the tutelage of Karmen Thomson.
So what exactly has immersion in the world of raranga provided?
“Weaving is who I am, not what I do. It has enabled me to find a safe space within te ao Māori where I can practice the ancient art of our tūpuna. It has also allowed me to adorn my whanau, hapū and iwi in kākahu again.
“Weaving is all about interpreting stories with harakeke. By incorporating a holistic perspective within weaving, this gives a much deeper understanding of ourselves and our culture.”
Anyone interested in studying raranga at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Rotorua can contact 0800 355 553 or check out details on this website.
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in the Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art, Raranga, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Creating the spark for business success
With plenty of experience as an electrician, Josh Verstraten was ready to branch out from employee to business owner, but he knew running a successful business would require a new set of skills.
From financial stress to financial freedom for Auckland whānau
For Augustine Kopa, studying the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was about creating a better future for her whānau.
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae
Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
