The traditional Cook Islands handicraft of tivaevae has received a special Indian twist.
In a rare cultural exchange, South Auckland Cook Islands 'mamas' have been gifted sacred Indian fabrics from a local Sikh temple.
Now they are weaving new stories into their applique for an exhibition in October.
Tepori Teariki. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Indira Stewart
Tepori Teariki leads the mamas' group, Ta'okota'i Anga Vainetini, which is made up of about 30 women who received the sacred fabrics from the Takanini Sikh Society.
"The glitters and all the designs on these materials, they already are ready to go straight onto the Tivaevae. If you do embroidery work on them it spoils it," Ms Teariki said.
"The idea behind it is trying to recycle this material so we don't burn it.
The fabrics are known as Rumala Sahib and are normally given as temple offerings during celebrations.
They are handmade in India and cost over $NZ100 per metre but after being briefly used in the temple they are traditionally burnt or thrown away.
Spokesperson for the society Daljit Singh said about a tonne of the fabric was burnt every year.
"So this kind of stuff, donating when they're getting married or if there is any happiness in their family. So it's good that they are using it for a good purpose now. We're quite happy that it's for use," Mr Singh said.
"We never actually sell it... we can't actually make a profit. So it's only we can give to a community which is working for the community."
Rumala Sahib Photo: RNZ Pacific / Indira Stewart
With the help of organisations like Healthy Families and the Southern Initiative, the Sikh Society is now donating the fabric to several local organisations for re-use.
About 200 women from groups such as the Cook Islands Development Agency New Zealand, Te Awa Ora Trust and Auckland Regional Migrant Services are now using their skills and creativity to give the fabric a second life.
The initiative has been taken up by other Sikh temples around New Zealand and in Canada, India, British Columbia and Australia.
The idea, however, did not win immediate acceptance with the mamas, Ms Teariki said.
"Some of our mamas they say to me 'you know our culture? We don't mix any other community's culture within our culture because one day they're going to say that's our culture but the Cook Islanders have taken over on it,'" she said.
"For me it's good to share the knowledge of our culture and it's good for the other community to share their knowledge about their culture. Then we work together and incoroporate."
Rumala Sahib infused Tivaevae. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Indira Stewart
The exchange had helped build bridges and understanding between the Cook Islands community and the Sikhs, Ms Teariki said.
"Before I met them, what I think about them was different. I thought they don't have the same culture and the way of thinking like us. But when I met them and when they tell us their stories, then I went, 'wow they're doing more than what we are doing.' Our community don't do that and it gives me a good feeling about them."
The mamas were also upcycling the material to make bags to replace those made of plastic, Ms Teariki said.
"I thank the Sikh community for sharing all this material with us and I think we are one of the luckiest to have this relationship with them and I want to continue to grow it."
