Christine Le Roux

I grew up in Brittany, on the West coast of France. I came to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2003 and first lived in Tokoroa, Waikato where I started learning about harakeke / NZ flax and mahi raranga / flax weaving at a Friday class run by Janine Wheeler, in 2004.

After two years travelling and working around the country, I settled down in Rotorua and joined another Friday class with Karmen Thompson at Waiariki Polytechnic. I enjoyed the welcoming hospitality and the sharing of knowledge of this traditional Māori craft by a gifted teacher.

Te Wānanga O Aotearoa Rotorua is the school where I spent six rich years of noho marae / study stays, expanding and deepening my practice of mahi raranga and mahi whatu / flax fibre weaving. I would like to acknowledge my Kaiako / teachers Gerry Karekare, Meleta Bennett, Rose Te Ratana and Margaret Belshaw and all the student weavers I learned alongside with.

Another highlight of my apprenticeship is learning tāniko / finger weaving at the evening classes at Te Puia, under the guidance of Edna, Hectorina and Makere.

Mahi raranga is my meeting point with Te Ao Māori/ the Māori world. It is also my meeting point with creativity and the well-being it brings to my life.

- Christine Le Roux