TITLE: Nukutae
MATERIAL: Onekura, Kokowai, Pepa, Aho Muka, Tanekaha dye, Kānono dye.
SIZE: A3 Size 420mm x 290mm

Makareta Jahnke
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Hikutu and Tainui

Pluck out the heart of the flax, Where will the bellbird sing?
Ask me, What is the greatest thing of this world?
It is people, It is people, It is people!

I am a descendant of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou and Tainui. I was certified with a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts Degree at Massey University, Palmerston North. Later, I gained a Diploma in Secondary Teaching at Auckland College of Education. In 2011, I returned home to Pākinga near Kaikohe with my family to grow in the Māori world. I am currently a facilitator teaching Māori arts and design to students at ĀKAU. I wear many hats, a mum, a teacher ,designer, an artist, a weaver and guide. My greatest wish is to nurture our youth so that they stand strong as future leaders in this changing world.

Nukutae was created from the natural resources and colours of Papatuanuku (mother earth) using traditional Maori methods to create the aho, to make the natural dyes and to make the earth pigments for the paint. Nukutae encapsulates the radiant energy between the Ranginui (sky father) and Papatuanuku (earth mother). The layers of Onekura and Kokowai painted ,composing a tāniko pattern, highlights the richness and beauty of mother earth. The earthy colour tones portray their whakapapa of the whenua (landscape) encoded with time and place. The aho muka sewn in parts of the tāniko landscape represents the spiritual connection of Tangata whenua to the land and the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) over it.