Kete
Above: Collection of Pounamu's work in exhibition at Fibre Spectrum in Nelson.

Kete Pingao
NZ $150

Kete Harakeke & Feather Wool
NZ $110

Kete Harakeke
NZ $110

Kete Harakeke
NZ $100

Kete Copper Shim
NZ $85

Kete Harakeke
NZ $100

Kete Harakeke
NZ $100

Kete Kuta & Harakeke
NZ $100

Kete Harakeke
NZ $110

Kete Harakeke, Copper & Pearls
NZ $125   (SOLD)

Kete Harakeke
NZ $125

Kete Kuta & Harakeke
NZ $125

Kete Harakeke Round Container
NZ $90

Kete Harakeke Round Container   (as above)
NZ $90

Kete Pingao
NZ $75

Pounamu began weaving in 1990 with Tuniga Baker, Susan Barrett, Bella Brown, Hazel Wall and Barbara Greene, through a weaving project that included the gathering of Renee Orchiston's Harakeke collection to plant and propagate in Mohua (Golden Bay).

"I was inspired from that moment", Pounamu says.

Kete
Made from Kie Kie for Pounamu's son Shanti.

Pounamu has been with Te Awhi Rito since 1990 - and since 2002 she has been involved in many group projects, including:

Hei Whakatipuranga - Commission piece for Awaroa Lodge in New Zealand's Abel Tasman National Park

Kotahitanga - Entry for WOW World of WearableArt Awards

Kuta Whariki for Bruce Bay Marae opening.

Two exhibitions at Fine in Wellington.

Gisborne Lindauer Cellars exhibition.

Fibre Spectrum exhibition in Nelson.

Right:
Hei Whakatipuranga
Commission piece for
Awaroa Lodge in the
Abel Tasman National Park

Kotahitanga
Pounamu applying the finishing touches to the wings of the Kea (the female bird) of Kotahitanga - Te Awhi Rito's entry in the 2004 WOW World of WearableArt Awards.

Pounamu has an extensive collection of Harakeke (NZ Flax) at her home. Materials she collects include Kuta, Kie Kie, Nei Nei - and she especially loves Pingao. Pounamu is involved in replanting projects for Pingao and Harakeke.

Pingao (fresh)
When it is fresh, Pingao is green, as you can see in the photo above and in the background of the FlaxArt.co.nz website. The photo below shows the golden colour Pingao takes on as it dries.


Right:
Pounamu (foreground)
and Bronwynn Billens
working on the wings of Kotahitanga.

Left:
Kete
Made from Harakeke. With this piece, Pounamu was playing with patterns in the weaving.

Right:
Waitangi Kete
Pounamu's son Taimana holds a Kete made for a sick friend who was travelling to Waitangi Day celebrations.

Waitangi Kete
Close-up.

Kie Kie Collecting
Pounamus's son Sam helping to collect Kie Kie from Westhaven at the top of New Zealand's South Island.

Copper Shim Kete
Kete made entirely from copper.

Pounamu's Gift Emporium
The photo above shows a display of Kete and Books which won Reed Publishing's Maori Book Display Competition.

Pounamu has a large family and also owns and operates an awesome Gift Emporium (called "Pounamu's") in Takaka, Golden Bay.


Left:
 Wallhanging
Created at a Tina Wirihana workshop held at Onetahua Marae.
Made with Harakeke.

Kete
Made with Tarere Harakeke

"I consider myself an apprentice weaver. I'm in awe at the amazing skill of our ancestral weavers."
                                                                         Pounamu

Contact Details:

Pounamu's
27a Commercial Street,
Takaka, Golden Bay,
Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Phone/Fax 03 525 8849
International Phone/Fax (+64) 3 525 8849