Punarua: Weaving work honours legacy of Tūwharetoa knowledge holders

Taupō Museum is set to unveil Punarua, possibly the largest piupiu ever created, in its Aotearoa debut following a standout international premiere at the prestigious 2024 Biennale of Sydney.

Commissioned especially for the Biennale, Punarua was designed and led by Hone Bailey, a member of the local weaving collective Te Whā ā Huna, which also includes Paehoro Konui, Meraania Heke Chase-Perich, and Manu Fox. The piece pays tribute to the late Koro Te Kanawa Pitiroi, a respected leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and tireless advocate for the preservation of iwi knowledge.

Hone Bailey, recognised online for sharing insights into te ao Māori with a large and loyal following, is an integral part of Te Whā ā Huna. Punarua is very much the work of the collective, whose artistry and cultural depth shaped the taonga from its base in Tokaanu, a place known for its geothermal beauty and celestial connections, reflected in the names of its streets.

The work draws inspiration from the ancestral narrative of Māui-takitaki-i-te-rā and was created using traditional weaving techniques passed down through generations. This project is not only a celebration of intergenerational storytelling but a labour of love and legacy by weavers deeply connected to the whenua.

“This taonga is a living piece,” says museum curator Piata Winitana-Murray. “By exhibiting Punarua during Matariki and then long term in the Tūwharetoa Gallery, we honour the fact that these traditions are still very much alive - practiced, celebrated, and shared with whānau and the community.”