Page 64 - Constructing Craft

made products at the regional agricultural shows. Throughout her life she worked
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hard on many community projects. She died in 1978.

Te Aue Takotoroa Davis, born in 1925, was of Ngati Uekaha and Maniapoto

descent and played a major part in the renaissance of the Māori weaving
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movement. Te Aue’s main concern was the loss of the plants used in traditional
weaving and for dying. Such plants as kiekie, pingao, harakeke, totara, kahikatea,

pukatea and dye plants, were, she believed, endangered. She promoted the
cultivation of scarce plants in gardens. She also worked with the Department of

Conservation to develop their understanding of the importance of artists having
access to natural resources for the continuation of mahi harakeke. As a result policy

was changed to permit weavers access to plants and feathers from protected birds.
She died in 2010.

Te Aue Davis. Photo: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Tongarewa.

Constructing Craft