Skip Content
Estelle Waaka: Tauira - Ngā Mahi ā te Whare Pora - Weaving Toi Paematua - Diploma in Māori and Indigenous Art

Hamilton 25-year-old Estelle Waaka is aiming to take the skills and knowledge she has gained from Te Wananga o Aotearoa’s raranga (weaving) programme to inspire her Fonterra workmates.

Estelle works fulltime as a milk quality advisor for Fonterra and wanted to create a piece of mahi toi (artwork) to represent some of the company’s values.

“At work they often talk about tātau tātau and you, me, us together. So I wanted to put a bit more meaning behind that,” says Estelle who will soon complete her diploma at the Wānanga (TWoA) in Māori and Indigenous Art – Weaving 

She plans to gift Fonterra a series of panels as well as a few kete (baskets) that she has been working on throughout the year.

“I love the whakatauki, nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi - with your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive. So I’ve tried to make the kete, panels and patterns all a little bit different but together as a collective they will make one piece to symbolise that.”

As well as gifting her art pieces to Fonterra, Estelle has been able to give back by teaching other staff the art of raranga.

“For Te Wiki o te Reo Māori week, we taught some of our staff how to make harakeke flowers to try and get the interest out there and share the knowledge that I’ve learnt from being in class.”

Estelle’s passion for raranga originally came from a desire to learn more about her Māori heritage and the way things were done by her tupuna from previous generations.

After discovering the raranga classes that TWoA had on offer Estelle enrolled to do the level 4 certificate in 2020 and loved it so much that she continued on to do the diploma.

“It’s been really amazing. It’s always a really supportive environment in and out of class and the amount of knowledge that the kaiako are willing to share and show is incredible.”

Before Estelle gifts her panels and kete to Fonterra, they will be on display from 22 November to 10 December at TWoA’s Te Rapa campus for the He Kohikohinga exhibition.

Members of the public are welcome to come and view the art on display between 7am and 10pm, providing they follow Covid restriction guidelines.

Find out more about our toi Māori (Arts) programmes.

 Back to news & events

Published On: 18 November 2021

Article By: Cassia Ngaruhe



Other Articles

  • 31 July 2025

    Whānau fuelled success at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

    Nadia MacDonald’s journey through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Diploma in Small Business and Project Management highlights the power of whānau support, Māori values, and practical learning. Discover how she balanced work, study, and parenting to achieve success and uplift her community.

  • 24 July 2025

    Tamariki once were cherished

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Te Manawahoukura Rangahau Centre releases Taku Waipiataata, Taku Hei Tāwhiri, a powerful report calling for a revival of gentle, respectful Māori parenting. Discover how tūpuna child-rearing practices can transform whānau wellbeing and uplift future generations.

  • 24 July 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa chief executive Evie O’Brien announced as Te Kura Toroa

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates its 40th anniversary by bestowing chief executive Evie O’Brien with the enduring title of Te Kura Toroa. Discover the cultural significance of this new role and its reflection of leadership, kaitiakitanga, and Māori values.

  • 23 July 2025

    Māori musician's reo Māori journey leads to wānanga kaiako role

    Jordyn Rapana, known as Jordyn With A Why, shares her inspiring journey of learning te reo Māori to raise her tamariki in a reo-speaking home. From immersion study to becoming a kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, discover how music, whānau, and culture shaped her path.