Diggeress Rangituatahi Te Kanawa was one of Aotearoa’s most esteemed master weavers, whose lifetime of work preserved, revitalised, and celebrated the art of Māori weaving. Born into a lineage of expert weavers, including her mother Dame Rangimārie Hetet, she was immersed in the tikanga and techniques of raranga, whatu, and tāniko from a young age.

Her work was marked by extraordinary technical skill and deep cultural knowledge. Te Kanawa created traditional cloaks (kākahu) of exceptional beauty and integrity, often using muka from harakeke she prepared herself, and dyeing it with natural pigments in accordance with traditional practices. Each piece carried whakapapa and purpose, woven with precision and profound respect for the ancestors.

A teacher, advocate, and researcher, Te Kanawa helped found Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa and mentored generations of weavers across Aotearoa and the Pacific. Through exhibitions, wānanga, and her presence as a cultural leader, she ensured that Māori weaving remained a living, evolving art form embedded in tikanga, mana, and whānau.

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