A Ngati Kahungunu kuia has taken it upon herself to improve the state of karanga nationwide.
Raina Ferris has established the Kurawaka Retreat Centre at her home in Porangahau to teach women about the art form of karanga.
For the past 13 years, Ms Ferris has lectured for Te Wananga o Raukawa and says she's been a kaikaranga for more than 40 years.
She says there's so much beauty and sacredness to karanga that's been lost, and its overall state around the motu needs work.
The true depth and meaning of the art form is known to only a few, Ms Ferris says, but she believes that all wahine Maori need to know it and take ownership of it.
A beginners course and level two course will be offered over three weekends a year.
