Honouring Tradition: Mātanga toi and weaving exponent Karl Leonard and whānau deliver piupiu taonga to Ngāti Toa Rangatira
Inanahi rā, we received a special visit from mātanga toi and weaving exponent Karl Leonard (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Pahipoto, Ngāti Raukawa), along with his wife Ruiha (Te Whānau a Apanui) and their son Whakaue. Karl and his whānau journeyed from Rotorua to hand deliver a set of piupiu that him and his whānau have been working on for the past 10 months.
Commissioned by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and made possible by the ongoing support received by Wellington Community Fund, this taonga will be looked after by the Te Ahurea-Taiao team and made available to iwi groups whose kaupapa aligns with marae and iwi succession.
Karl’s connection to ngā mahi toi runs deep within his whakapapa, with both of his kuia, Piarimu Kereua Ngaheu and Parewahawaha Ranginui Teimana, being accomplished weavers. He hekenga whakapapa ōna ringa rehe mai ngā taha e rua. Renowned for his delicate rāranga and whatu work, Karl is also a master of the intricate tāniko technique.
These skills are vital for crafting piupiu, and Karl’s creations are highly sought after, especially by leading kapa haka rōpu across Aotearoa.
Karl’s creations are highly sought after, especially by leading kapa haka rōpu across Aotearoa. During Karl’s visit he shared his story with an attentive audience of our own mātanga, ringatoi, kaihaka, and our whānau from Ngāti Raukawa detailing how he learned his craft from generations of skilled tupuna and kuia who often put him in places where he had no choice but to just do the mahi.
He continues to pass on these teachings to his own whānau, who all play a pivotal role in the work, making it a true whānau kaupapa that creates succession and contributes to their legacy.
Karl also explained the detailed process of creating piupiu, from harvesting to preparing, dyeing and drying.
He left us with vital tips on how we need to adequately store and care for the taonga to ensure their longevity.
Ki a koe Karl, Ruiha me tō pā harakeke… E mihi kau ana ki a koutou mō tēnei taonga ki a Ngāti Toa Rangatira me ngā uri whakaheke.