Te Hiwa o Te Rangi

This artwork is created in honour of my tupuna wahine, Te Hiwa o Te Rangi — born during the time of Matariki, and named after Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the wishing star. In the cluster of Matariki, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is the star to whom we send our dreams and desires — a symbol of aspiration, abundance, and hope for the future.

I imagine Nanny Te Hiwa here, as a young wahine, kneeling in the soft warmth of the east coast sands of Wairarapa — her turangawaewae , the place she was born, lived, and belonged to for all her days. She gathers kaimoana, her kete woven by her own skilled hands, crafted through the art of raranga passed down through generations. The shellfish at her knees — perhaps pipi — are not just food, but a continuation of tradition, of sustenance drawn from the rhythms of the tide and the generosity of the whenua.

This image is a nostalgic reflection of a time when life was simpler — when access to waterways and kaimoana was woven into daily life, not restricted as it is now. Back then, the land and sea were trusted providers. Whanau lived rurally and closer together, sharing what they had, sustaining one another with aroha and reciprocity. The connection to place was not just practical, but spiritual — every stone, shell, and current a reminder of whakapapa and belonging.

This piece honours Nanny Te Hiwa, her gentle strength, her connection to land and sea, and the legacy she left in the quiet, enduring threads of everyday life. In her, I see the essence of Hiwa-i-te-Rangi — a woman of hope, of intention, and of deep-rooted connection to place, people, and purpose.