Poipoia - Ngā Pia o Te Whare Pora

“Ko Matariki te whetu hei arataki e…”

Nurturing and celebrating new beginnings in te whare pora (the art of weaving), with works from students of Te Wananga o Aotearoa (Turangi).

Poipoia means to nurture. Pia are traditionally the first order of learners being initiated in esoteric lore. Te whare pora is the house of weaving. Hineteiwaiwa is the goddess of weaving and fertility, iwa means nine and can also refer to the nine months of pregnancy.

Matariki is the star constellation that signals the new year in Māori traditions, it also has nine stars in its constellation. They are Tupuanuku, Tupuarangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-rangi, Ururangi, Matariki, Pohutukawa, and Hiwa-i-te-rangi.

Taupō Museum are honored to exhibit works from both past and present raranga students from Te Wananga o Aotearoa (Turangi), alongside woven pieces from the Museum’s own raranga (weaving) collection. As in the role of tuakana-teina (mentorship), these works will serve to celebrate the journey of weaving from pia to tohunga (expert), exchanging and conversing as learner and teacher, while under the guiding constellation of Matariki.

Taupō Museum also run Matariki activities during the July school holidays. To find out more check our Taupō Museum Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/TaupoMuseum

Nau mai haere mai.

Taupō Museum is open 7 days from 10am to 4:30pm.