Weaving My Pepeha
Available: 14 June – 12 October 2025
Year level: Y 4 - 8
Duration: 90 mins\
What does whānau mean, and how has its meaning evolved over time?
How can we represent whānau through art, storytelling, or symbols?
How does whakapapa shape identity and connections to people, places, and history?
Why is pepeha important in Māori culture, and how does it help express identity and belonging?
Inspired by the He Tukutuku Auahatanga: Maureen Lander with Community insert link exhibition. This learning programme responds to the woven installations created by Taranaki primary school students in workshops guided by the artist and local weaver Karen Clark. These artworks speak to the nature of whakapapa, whanaungatanga, whanau and celebrate the values of kotahitanga, manaakitanga, mahi tahi.
In our Learning Centre
The Weaving My Pepeha programme encourages students to work together making decisions, exploring and expressing their group identity through the creation of a collective artwork featuring a pou raranga pepa symbolising whakawhanaungatanga.
At school:
- Pepeha Posters: Create visual posters representing their pepeha, using drawings, photos, and descriptions.
Curriculum links:
- Social sciences, the Arts, Maori tikanga , matauranga
Broader connections:
This lesson connects with Puke Ariki Museum education programmes:
Tukutuku: The lattice panels | Puke Ariki
Toi Whakaari o Taranaki: Performing Arts | Puke Ariki
Image: Central School ākonga creating artworks with Karen from Karen's Kitz. Photo: Tania Niwa