About the artist
Dr Te Aue Davis, CNZ, OBE
Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Uekaha
Te Aue Davis joined the Kāhui Whiritoi in 2006.
Dive into the details
Te Aue worked extensively with the Department of Conservation to develop their understanding of the importance of artist having access to natural resources for the continuation of mahi harakeke.
In 1985 Davis received a grant from Te Waka Toi, the council for Māori and Pacific Arts, to compile an inventory of the materials required for traditional weaving. "Our resources such as kiekie, pingao, harakeke, totara, kahikatea, pukatea and dye plants are endangered in many regions and dangerously scarce nationally" she said. Davis (of Ngati Uekaha and Maniapoto) also targeted the Department of Labour and its skilled supervisors for conservation education. Her mahi resulted in policy changes that allowed weavers access to plants and feathers from protected birds.
