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Overview
Hine Raumati
Hine Raumati is a kete whakairo woven by Anahera Alixine Curtis that was initially started in March 2020 during the first COVID-19 lockdown and finished mid 2021. It is woven from natural and dyed harakeke, kiekie, whitau (muka), and tōtara.
Hine Raumati was the first of a series of kete woven by Anahera which she began during March 2020 lockdown. There are three main factors the influenced the design of this kete. Raumati, the atua associated with the summer months for which the kete takes its name forms the inspiration of the colour pallet used with an emphasis on sunrise, sunset, and blooming flowers. The reflection of the night sky in the summer forms the basis inspiration for the pattern work of this kete which features a multitude of whetu or star patterns in a variety of shapes and forms. The final influencing factor was Anahera’s kuia, who was also a weaver who had many kete around her home.
"When I was a girl, my kuia’s whare was full of kete. They were everywhere, but they weren’t like the kete we see today. They were shaped, sculpted, and stretched full of things. This is because they were used. They held potatoes, kumara, washing – and it never took away from their beauty, it added to it. These elements are reflected in my work."
Anahera Alixine Curtis, Jan 2022
In addition to a weaver, Anahera is also a painter with a painters understanding of colour combinations and the colour wheel. This means that for her the weaving material becomes the canvas that holds colour which adds a dimension to her work not commonly seen in today’s weavers. The handles of Hine Raumati are carved from tōtara wood. There were also carved by Anahera, who also has training in whakairo.
"The form of this kete is from my kuia’s kete. The rawness of the materials is an ongoing connection to nature. The colours are from the environment around us. The fine weaving and fine patterning are a variety of whetu or star patterns which shines the season down on the mara which mirrors back to the sky and its natural rhythms."
Anahera Alixine Curtis, Jan 2022
Kete
When looking at traditional Māori raranga, there is no more well-known or more woven taonga than the kete, and it is impossible to accurately tell the story of raranga without them. Kete have been a staple of Māori culture for possibly as long as there has been Māori. Historically the diverse kete has fulfilled a variety of practical and functional needs, ranging from carrying simple goods, to bags used for washing and cooking, to complex sieve and filtration systems, and into the ceremonial or spiritual such as the kete ipu whenua or the kete apapa used by tohunga.
In modern times the use of kete has decreased due to the availability of modern alternatives, however they have seen a resurgence with the recent ban of the plastic bag. Despite popularity trends, kete continue to be woven and used by Māori and non-Māori alike, and are a vital representation of past and ongoing material Māori culture. Due to the fineness of materials used, complexity of their weaving, range of colour, and the details of their patterns, many kete are works of art in their own right and are practical and iconic pieces used as representation of Māori and New Zealand identity.