Te Raranga Whare

The Te Raranga Whare mural was opened in 2022 on Te Whare Rāranga ō Paekākāriki (Weavers’ Whare) in Paekākāriki. It’s a collaboration between mana whenua Ngāti Haumia, the Paekākāriki Community Board, and Council.

Work on the mural started in January 2021. Ngāti Haumia led the design process, with support from the Paekākāriki Community Board and advice from Council’s Public Art Panel.

The three walls of the whare include the well-loved previous design poutama (stairway to heaven) by Johanna Kumplès, honouring the tradition of weaving. The mural shows Papatūānuku (mother earth) and parts of the environment, including the nearby awa (stream), the harakeke (flax) weavers use, and colours reflecting a theme of “mountains to sea”. 

An important part of the mural is the image of Miriona Mutu Budge, tipuna (ancestor) of Ngāti Haumia, who owned the land and contributed greatly to the community, including the traditions of weaving.