Britta Conrad
I have always liked keeping my hands busy. Growing up in Germany, my mum had tought me how to crochet, knit and spin wool, which I then dyed with plant based dyes. Later I taught myself macramé and bead weaving.
When I came to New Zealand in 1990, I was amazed at the traditional maori art of flaxweaving. I fell in love with the kete especially and would have loved to purchase one, but since money was usually scarce at that time, I decided that I would learn to make my own one day.
It took quite a few years until it happened though. Apart from a weekend weaving workshop in Pakiri in 1999 it wasn’t until 2003, when I moved to Mangawhai, that I was lucky to get to know a very gifted and commited weaver. She was happy to teach me and invited me to meet with her group of local weavers on a regular basis, where I learned to make baskets, kete and backpacks. I also attended a few wananga’s, meetings of weavers on a marae, with my friends. I loved it!
In 2015 I attended a 1 year raranga study course with Northland Polytech to broaden my knowledge of this traditional maori artform. Once a month we would meet at a marae in the Hokianga where, apart from flax weaving I also learned how to make Taniko, the coloured borders around elaborate capes, or Tukutuku, the wall panels found inside a meeting house. It was a rich experience!
Even after 15 years of weaving I know that I myself have still a lot to learn, but I am now at a point where I want to pass on all the knowledge that I have been so privileged to receive. I decided to teach flax weaving workshops, which will be a new learning curve for me, as well as my students. I very much like the fact that the raw material for this work is easily and freely available everywhere and that we can produce items from natural materials that are practicalas well as beautiful and be kind to Mother Nature.
Contact Britta Conrad on 021 02549136
When I came to New Zealand in 1990, I was amazed at the traditional maori art of flaxweaving. I fell in love with the kete especially and would have loved to purchase one, but since money was usually scarce at that time, I decided that I would learn to make my own one day.
It took quite a few years until it happened though. Apart from a weekend weaving workshop in Pakiri in 1999 it wasn’t until 2003, when I moved to Mangawhai, that I was lucky to get to know a very gifted and commited weaver. She was happy to teach me and invited me to meet with her group of local weavers on a regular basis, where I learned to make baskets, kete and backpacks. I also attended a few wananga’s, meetings of weavers on a marae, with my friends. I loved it!
In 2015 I attended a 1 year raranga study course with Northland Polytech to broaden my knowledge of this traditional maori artform. Once a month we would meet at a marae in the Hokianga where, apart from flax weaving I also learned how to make Taniko, the coloured borders around elaborate capes, or Tukutuku, the wall panels found inside a meeting house. It was a rich experience!
Even after 15 years of weaving I know that I myself have still a lot to learn, but I am now at a point where I want to pass on all the knowledge that I have been so privileged to receive. I decided to teach flax weaving workshops, which will be a new learning curve for me, as well as my students. I very much like the fact that the raw material for this work is easily and freely available everywhere and that we can produce items from natural materials that are practicalas well as beautiful and be kind to Mother Nature.
Contact Britta Conrad on 021 02549136
