Beloved weaver gets supreme award

Matekino Lawless with her Supreme Award from Creative New Zealand. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rotorua's weaving treasure Matekino Lawless was officially awarded her Te Waka Toi Supreme Award at a ceremony among friends and family at Taurua Marae on Saturday. Head of News Kelly Makiha finds out a little more about the wonderful woman and why she's so loved.

Even when Matekino Lawless was named the supreme winner of a Creative New Zealand Te Waka Toi award, the humble kuia was still thinking of others.

Her daughter, fellow weaver Christina Wirihana, said her mother found it hard to accept the award and kept mentioning others' names.

"She's a very humble lady and she will always put other people ahead of herself. She kept saying there were other worthwhile people before her but we were saying 'no, this is for you, you are the one, so we will celebrate you'," she said.

Mrs Lawless celebrated the award with her family and friends at Taurua Marae at Rotoiti on Saturday.

The humble Mrs Lawless told the Rotorua Daily Post the ceremony was excellent.

"It was just wonderful."

Although reluctant to talk about herself and why she got the award, she said it was a wonderful day.

"I had friends and relatives come from afar. That was really wonderful for me."

Mayor Steve Chadwick, who attended Saturday's celebration, said she had had a long association with Mrs Lawless.

"She is inspiring with her gift and humble pride. It was great to hear of her place at Whirua in Oregon. She was gifted very special blankets, three she told me with a giggle! She also gifted me a beautiful kete which will take pride of place. When I went to Parliament in 1999 she gave one that sat in my office for 12 years. This will go in the mayoral office."

Born in Te Awamutu in 1928, Mrs Lawless is the third oldest of 16 children and was raised on a farm at Paraawera in the Waikato by her parents Kotahi and Ena Onehi.

Mrs Lawless has been weaving for more than 60 years and tributes her learning to her kuia and the people of the Ngati Pikiao tribe. She is a respected elder, well known as a weaver among her people and a role model who emphasises quality.

At a very young age, Mrs Lawless would often stay with her kuia Kataraina Emery, a matriarch, strong follower of the Catholic movement and whariki weaver. She remembers sitting alongside, watching them weave whariki for the walls and dirt floor. She was also influenced by another Ngati Pikaio weaver of kakahu, Etera Foley.

Mrs Lawless believes that the seeds were sown during these early days and acknowledges the vision and legacy of her kui.

In her early teens, Mrs Lawless moved to Rotoiti. It was here that she met and married Jack Lawless of Te Koopua Marae, Ngati Maniapoto. They have one son and four daughters. All four daughters weave, however the most prolific is Mrs Wirihana. The mother/daughter team have an established relationship as weavers and as good friends. This unique partnership has drawn interest from national and international weavers.

The contribution Mrs Lawless has made to the art of weaving has gained national recognition and acknowledgement by being awarded the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in 1999 and a Creative New Zealand Kingi Ihaka Te Waka Toi Award in 2008. Mrs Lawless is a life member of the Maori Women's Welfare League and the Playcentre movement. More recently she has been made a member of the Kahui Whiritoi under the auspices of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa National Weavers Committee, Toi Maori Aotearoa.

A recent highlight for Mrs Lawless was the installation of 43 turapa panels in the United Nations Building, New York. This project was a commission co-ordinated by the Jack Lawless Whanau Trust, and involved several weavers from throughout the motu. The turapa installation provides a legacy for all New Zealanders and can be viewed in the most prominent gallery of the United Nations.

Matekino Lawless

* Affiliated to Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Whawhakia

* Awarded Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in 1999

* Awarded Creative New Zealand Kingi Ihaka Te Waka Toi Award in 2008

* Won the Supreme Te Waka Toi award last month