Special Matariki gatherings celebrate the amazing embroidered masterpieces designed by volunteers and made in collaboration with a group of wāhine behind the wire.
It was a cold start to the morning, and everyone arrived wrapped up warm. Twelve volunteers, three staff and fifteen wāhine gathered in the chapel at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility to celebrate Matariki.
Sister Gemma opened the gathering, and the wāhine sang the Lord’s Prayer in te reo Māori. It was a beautiful way to begin.
Celebrating the year’s mahi
The first presentation was the collaborative group project, ‘Heavenly Gardens’.
It’s an incredible embroidered masterpiece worked on a woven mat.
Explosive bursts of colourful wool and yarn make it look like both a coral reef and a lush fantasy garden.
Heather, a Sewing, Quilts and Crafts programme volunteer, presented the piece and explained that the whole group had decided on the vision. The hope is that it will go on show at site, where it will brighten and enliven the space.
Heather then showed a stunning honey bees quilt, made by a wāhine at Rangiora women’s hub at Waikeria Prison.
Next, the volunteers, supported by the wāhine, presented a beautiful slate-blue Matariki wall hanging. This is a shared piece contributed by the Rangiora cohort and nearing completion, with just the winds to be finished.
Heather talked through the meaning of each of the nine stars. The hope is that this piece will find its final home in the cooking/kitchen area at Waikeria.
Wāhine model kākahu – graduation capes
The volunteers then revealed the kākahu/graduation capes project, with wāhine modelling nine completed garments.
Heather described the journey of collaboration behind them. The careful thinking about how to create something beautiful, precious and celebratory, while keeping the design inclusive and culturally meaningful.
The whole team received a big shout-out from another volunteer, Marilyn, a professional pattern cutter, who created the pattern and cut out every garment.
Heather estimated 40-50 hours of labour and love had gone into each of the capes. The embellishment was a joint effort between volunteers and wāhine, and two wāhine modelled the capes they had decorated themselves.
The reaction was huge. Big smiles and gasps of appreciation all around. “That’s beautiful!”
“Isn’t that AWESOME!”
They truly are stunning to behold.
Matariki and looking to the future
In keeping with Matariki tradition, the volunteers turned to the future. They invited the wāhine to help shape the projects for the second half of the year.
“These hours give us just a little bit of normality, away from the unit – meeting new people, breaking down barriers between people.”
Ideas discussed included cosmetic bags for small items, larger stitched bags, knitting and crochet projects, and embellished cushions and bags.
Heather and the team will start preparing kits, with a lucky dip planned and further suggestions were warmly welcomed.
The quilt/stitch strand will be working on a beautiful wall hanging in pāua and blues/purples, hopefully to be hung in the dining room at site.
In their own words
From the volunteers:
“I love the collaboration and good friendship in these classes. I get just as much out of these sessions as the wāhine.”
From the wāhine:
“You welcome us into your life and we can never repay that, except with our love.”
“You teach us something new every time we see you.”
“I learned sewing and English here and appreciate your help.”
“I want to thank the Howard League . You have helped me get my driver’s licence, beekeeping and sewing. These hours give us just a little bit of normality, away from the unit – meeting new people, breaking down barriers between people. We can feel normal for a couple of hours.”
“I started learning English in October last year, with no English, and I am grateful for the course. It is hard to ask for help. Communication – it is very difficult.”
A Matariki presentation from one of the wāhine
One of the wāhine gave a wonderful presentation on Matariki. She shared the stars and the many names for the constellation around the world. Her favourite was Subaru, the Japanese name.
She spoke about each of the stars and what they represent, using two excellent visual aids she had created. She also offered suggestions on how each star might be honoured and fed by making offerings in a hau tapu.
This beautiful celebration closed with waiata, karakia and kai.
The second Matariki Sewing, Quilts and Crafts Programme celebration took place at Rangiora, the Waikato Hub of Auckland Women’s Corrections Facility.
The shared projects were unveiled to warm praise from the seven wāhine and seven volunteers who were there. They discussed planning ahead for the rest of the year, with an emphasis on creating beautiful, functional items for wāhine to use in their daily lives.
The group is also considering taking on a shared weaving project in the style of the ‘Heavenly Garden’.
There were beautiful moments of recognition and connection, as wāhine praised the work of their friends at the sister site.
Reflecting on the programme, they shared: “…I learn, learn, learn…”, “…we are really grateful for you guys…”, and, perhaps most importantly, “…it’s a happy place…”.
We look forward to seeing what the rest of the year brings, and reflecting on the journey at our end-of-year celebration in November.
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