Bachelor Od Design (Honours)
Project Name: Navigating Identity Through Textiles: A Journey Of Whakapapa
Ko Mauao te maunga. Ko Tauranga te moana. Ko Kopurererua te awa. Ko Takitimu te waka. Ko Tamateapokaiwhenua toku tipuna. Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi. Ko Ngāi Tamarawaho te hapu. Ko Huria toku marae. No Whakaraupō ahau. Ko Sofia Heke Toku Ingoa. As a Māori and Pākehā woman I grew up through a predominantly western lens. During the covid pandemic, I struggled to feel a sense of belonging as I felt disconnected to my cultural identity. As I began the journey of my Bachelor of Design (Honours), I dedicated myself to reconnecting to my Māori whakapapa in both my personal and academic life. This project was centred around using weaving as a form of navigating identity. I implemented traditional textile techniques from my European and Māori heritage such as raranga (Māori flax weaving) and loom weaving to reconnect and strengthen my cultural identity.
