Weaver confesses fascination for her craft
Debbie Buxton (left) and Maureen Harte of Wild Sands Weaving. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh
Maureen Harte’s Wild Sands Weaving studio takes its name from the ever-changing views over Farewell Spit. Occupying two rooms of the former farm cottage she owns along the coastal stretch of road between Pakawau and Puponga, it’s full of traditional and stylish kete, along with decorative wall hangings, many of which are clearly inspired by unfurling koru fronds.
This weaver acquired her skills far and wide, from alterations and sales in a menswear shop, to learning the finer points of sewing, pattern-making and textiles on a fashion design course at Tauranga Polytech.
Maureen grew up on a dairy farm near Matamata and lived in Rotorua before coming to live in Golden Bay six-and-a-half years ago. She first learnt to weave flax at the Rotorua Polytech under Dawn Smith, the daughter of renowned Maori weaver Emily Schuster, who set up Te Puia, formerly the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.
“I never thought I’d turn it into a business,” says Maureen. “I just wanted to learn the skill. It fascinated me; but once I was doing it, I got hooked right in. How fascinating to be able to cut raw, green, strong leaves direct from the flax plant, and totally transform them into a wonderful work of art!”
While she mainly concentrates on turning out her decorative wallhangings (the average price of a large one is around $130), Maureen has lately employed Debbie Buxton from Rangihaeta to come and help her weave a stock of kete for the coming season.
Comments Maureen: “A lot of my time for the last six years was taken up running workshops here and down to the West Coast. Now that the government funding for this sort of community education classes has been cut, it will definitely affect the way I work here.”
Maureen’s flax-weaving studio at 1735 Pakawau-Puponga Road is open from around 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday over summer. She also intends to offer weaving workshops for locals and tourists on demand.
Gerard Hindmarsh
