Maungarongo Te Kawa: Weaving whakapapa into art

Anzac Day is a time where many remember their tipuna and ancestors, especially those who served for this country. This is definitely the case for fabric artist Maungarongo Te Kawa from Ngati Porou. His grandfather, Maungarongopai Ni Te Kawa, was part of the Maori battalion and died at 22-years-old. Whakapapa is of great importance to Maungarongo and that springs forth in his elaborate, colourful quilts. Over two decades, he has told the stories of Maori through his distinctive quilting style and recently he has been all across the motu teaching quilting workshops.