Ōamaru’s Te Whare Koa Marae is hosting visiting artists from Te Wānanga o Raukawa who are sharing their knowledge with the community.

Kelly-Anne Ngatai, the first wāhine to graduate as a fully-qualified carver with a pautuarongo toi whakarākai - whakairo (bachelor of design and art - carving) from the Otāki-based Maori university, will be one of the artists.

This Saturday, a kōwhaiwhai wānanga is being held at the marae and people wanting to take part can register online, Te Whare Koa Marae co-secretary Sophia Leon de la Barra said.

The 1pm workshop will be preceded by a public pōwhiri at midday, welcoming the visitors onto the marae.

Kōwhaiwhai are Māori motifs, and are a way to tell a story. Kōwhaiwhai patterns are traditionally painted in red, black and white and represent the mana of a building, and its ancestors and people.

During the workshop the kōwhaiwhai on Te Whare Koa’s pātaka (storehouse) will be restored, and participants will also make a kōwhaiwhai panel to take home. The workshop costs $5.

On Tuesday night (January 16) the artists will hold whakairo wānanga, a carving and weaponry Q&A session, at the marae so people can learn more about Māori tikanga, and the legends, designs and patterns of the art form. 

The session is free, begins at 6.30pm and is open to the public, Sophia said.

Te Whare Koa Marae is a four-winds marae established in 1981 for people of all iwi and nationalities to connect with Te Ao Māori.