Edna Pahewa

Edna Pahewa (born 1954)^[1] is a New Zealand weaver and was the head of weaving (Tumu Raranga) at Te Rito, the weaving school of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, for 18 years. Her work is held in the permanent collection of Te Papa.^[1]

Edna Pahewa
Born	1954 New Zealand
Known for	Weaving & being the Head of Weaving (Tumu o Raranga) of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Mother	Emily Schuster
Relatives	Dawn Smith (sister)

Biography

Pahewa began weaving as a child when she was taught by her Nanny Bub, the younger sister of Rangitīaria Dennan.^[2] Pahewa's mother, Emily Schuster, was a renowned weaver, as was Pahewa's twin sister Dawn Smith, and both women influenced Pahewa. Pahewa was also taught by Diggeress Te Kanawa.^[2]

Pahewa has taught weaving at Te Papa o Te Aroha and Te Wananga o Aotearoa, both in Tokoroa.^[3] Pahewa was the head of the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute's weaving school, Te Rito, located in Rotorua that her mother Emily Schuster set-up in 1967. Both her mother and her sister Dawn have also held the head role of Te Tumu Raranga at the institute. After 18 years in the role Pahewa was succeeded by Meleta Bennett.^[4][5][6]

She is a member of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, the national collective of weavers, and has previously served as the organisation's chairperson.^[3] In 2005 while serving as chairperson, Pahewa helped establish the Kāhui Whiritoi group, membership of which formally acknowledges master weavers of New Zealand.^[7] She is currently serving as a committee member for the collective.^[8] Pahewa is also associated with Toi Māori Aotearoa, a Māori arts charitable trust.^[9]

In 2020 Pahewa was to represent New Zealand at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Hawai’i.^[10] However this festival has been postponed until June 2024.^[11]

Personal life

Pahewa affiliates with the iwi Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Tuhourangi.^[2][3]

References

1. "Edna Pahewa". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
2. Turi-Tiakitai, John Reid (2015), Tū Te Turuturu Nō Hineteiwaiwa Maintaining Cultural Integrity in the Teaching of Māori Weaving (PDF) (in English and Māori), Waikato Research Commons, hdl:10289/9626, Wikidata Q104709826
3. "Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread". Burke Museum. 2006. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
4. "Edna Pahewa – Te Rito weaving school". RNZ. 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
5. Bidois, Vanessa; Taylor, Cherie; Bargh, Robyn (2015). Māori Weaving: The Art of Creating Māori Textiles. Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand: New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. ISBN 978-1-77550-192-3. OCLC 922466620.
6. "The National Weaving School". New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
7. "Kahui Whiritoi". Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
8. "Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa". Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand. 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
9. Boynton, John (21 October 2017). "Weavers' hui focuses on teaching tikanga". RNZ. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
10. "Aotearoa artist delegation and Ka Hao Te Rangatahi youth ambassadors – Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture 2020". Creative New Zealand. 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
11. "Ho'oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania - 13th Festival of Pacific Art & Culture". The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2021.

External links

• Pahewa discussing weaving Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 5 June 2012
• Pahewa discussing weaving ABS-CBN News channel, 29 July 2018