Workshop to explore benefits of weaving

Māori tutor Marc Taura says raranga (weaving) using harakeke (flax) can help calm the mind. PHOTOS: SAM HENDERSON

The value of weaving for wellness will be explored during a workshop taking place next month.

Marc Taura (Ngāpuhi) will be one of the facilitators at a workshop for mental health professionals that has a focus on wellbeing and self-care.

His journey into teaching Māori raranga (weaving) began many years ago when a random drive led him to rediscover a childhood memory.

When he was provided a company car as part of a new job, he took advantage of a generous fuel card to take a long drive.

Driving for hours after picking up the car in Auckland, he ended up in the Bay of Plenty.

"I had no idea where I was going."

Hours later, he found himself on a winding, gravel road and eventually arrived at Waikare Marae in the Bay of Plenty.

"I came over a hill and I just had this feeling come through me, I know this place."

He later realised he had a memory of visiting the marae for a reunion when he was about 10.

This chance encounter helped him learn more about his whakapapa and led to him speaking with his grandmother to understand more about his genealogy.

Mr Taura began taking night classes in te reo Māori in Auckland and enrolled in a weaving course.

A sculptural form by Marc Taura combines natural and woven elements.

"I thought I’d do this weaving course that I’d seen that was one year long and then I’d go and do a carving course after that for a year.

"And then I could be a weaver and a carver.

"Well, I did this weaving course and by the end of the course, I’d realised that I can’t do both, weaving is enormous on its own.

"It’s a big topic, and so I never did any carving."

Mr Taura was working in tourism in Queenstown when the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic meant he no longer had any customers.

Looking for an alternative, he began teaching weaving.

"I moved to Alexandra and taught weaving all around Central Otago for a few years."

He recently moved to Mosgiel and he will be part of a workshop in March that focuses on professional development and self-care in the mental health space.

At the workshop, he aims to provide simple weaving lessons.

"Probably just weaving flowers or something — something simple.

"It is making them realise that doing something can help them de-stress."

The act of completing a simple weaving task could help people "switch off" some of their stressful thoughts.

Marc Taura uses Māori weaving in traditional and contemporary ways.

"But also, it only takes a little bit of concentration so they can talk while they are doing it, so they are networking with the other people there," he said.