3 Aug 2009

Funeral of Diggeress Te Kanawa

9:48 pm on 3 August 2009

The funeral of weaver Diggeress Te Kanawa will be held on Monday morning at Te Tokanganui a Noho Marae in Te Kuiti.

The Ngati Maniapoto mother of 12, and her mother Rangimarie Hetet, are credited with the revival of traditional raranga, particularly the weaving of kakahu, or cloaks.

Mrs Te Kanawa died on Thursday, aged 89.

Te Wananga o Aotearoa chief executive Bentham Ohia told Waatea News that Mrs Te Kanawa played a major role in setting up weaving classes in the early days of the wananga. She was still teaching a year ago.