Skip Content
Tracey Robens

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.

 Back to news & events

Published On: 23 October, 2020

Article By: Stephen Ward



Other Articles

  • 20 May 2025

    Marae-Based Research: A Vehicle for Reclamation

    Explore Kimiora Raerino’s inspiring journey from urban Māori upbringing to PhD researcher and Senior Research Fellow at Te Manawahoukura. Discover how marae-based research and māra kai became powerful tools for reconnection, cultural identity, and community wellbeing.

  • 14 May 2025

    A full circle moment from tauira to kaiako

    Explore the inspiring journey of Krystle Nikora, from tauira to kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her passion for te reo Māori blossomed and led her to teach He Pī ka Rere Level 3 and 4.

  • 8 May 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study opportunities in their Semester B offerings

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study programmes for Semester B, including Māori Governance, Digital Media and Design, Building and Construction Skills, and Study and Employment Skills. Designed to meet the needs of tauira, whānau, hapū, and iwi, these programmes integrate mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori perspectives. Enrol now to grow your skills and achieve your aspirations.

  • 30 April 2025

    Mākereti Papakura, the first Indigenous woman to study at Oxford, to be awarded a posthumous degree

    The School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford has announced that pioneering Māori scholar, Mākereti Papakura, will receive a posthumous degree more than 100 years after she began her studies.