the hetet whānau

OUR STORY

Empty space, drag to resize

RANGIMARIE HETET
(1882 - 1995)

Empty space, drag to resize
The daughter of Te Rongopamamao and Charles Wilson Hursthouse, (Nana) Rangimarie was raised with her mother’s people - the Ngāti Kinohaku hapū of Ngāti Maniapoto.

Born in 1892, Rangimarie grew up learning to weave with her mother, Mere Te Rongopamamao, who was a celebrated weaver of her time. In her 50’s Rangimarie, with her daughter Diggeress, set about reviving the art (which was near extinction) through the network of the Māori Women's Welfare League. Both Rangimarie and Diggeress Te Kanawa were renowned as weavers and teachers both nationally and internationally.

Rangimarie's legacy is carried on today through her granddaughters and great granddaughters who continue to weave, teach and conserve this traditional Māori artform.

Among them: Grand daughters Muri Turner, Ria Davis, Kahu Te Kanawa and several great granddaughters including Veranoa Hetet. Grand daughter, Rangi Te Kanawa, who also weaves, is a museum conservator of Māori weaving and Ata Te Kanawa, another granddaughter, promotes Maori fashion design through her initiative MiroModa.
Empty space, drag to resize

RANGI HETET
(1937 -    )

Empty space, drag to resize
A grandson of Rangimarie Hetet, Rangi is the matua and co-founder of the Hetet School of Māori Art.

At the age of 17, Rangi was taken out of school by elders of his mother's people, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, to become a carver to help carve the meeting house Tapeka for Chief Te HeuHeu in Waihi at Lake Taupo.

Rangi learned carving at the old carving school Te Ao Marama in Ohinemutu, Rotorua under the mentorship of Tuhaka Kapua then Hone Taiapa. He was a member of the Konae Aronui group of carvers who carved many Wharenui around New Zealand under the leadership of Hone Taiapa.  

Rangi has taught carving for many years in various settings including the Institute of Māori Arts and Crafts at Whakarewarewa, Wānanga, Marae and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

With his wife Erenora, he developed the first Marae based training programmes in traditional Maori Art, the first Maori Museum Intern programme as well as diploma and degree programmes for Wānanga and Polytechnics.

Rangi has overseen the creation of wharenui and several waka taua as well as many commissioned public works throughout Aotearoa NZ and around the world.

ERENORA PUKETAPU-HETET
(1941 - 2006)

Empty space, drag to resize
Erenora was the daughter of Vera and Ihaia Puketapu. She was raised in the tribal settlement of her father’s people - the Ngāti Hamua of Te Atiawa at Waiwhetu in the Awakairangi -Hutt Valley.

Rangi and Erenora courted when Rangi worked on the wharenui Arohanui ki te Tangata at Waiwhetu in the late 1950s. They were the first couple to be married in the meeting house a month after it opened.

Erenora learned taaniko weaving with her sister-in-law, Jean Puketapu and rourou from other women in her whānau as a young teenager.

At 19 and as a new member of the Hetet whānau with an obvious interest in weaving, she was taken under the wing of Rangi's grandmother, Rangimarie, who taught Erenora raranga, whatu kākahu and other weaving skills.

Erenora was renowned as both a traditional weaver and a contemporary Maori artist and was highly regarded as a teacher of weaving. Her work can be found in public and private collections throughout the world and has been exhibited widely throughout Australia, the Pacific, Europe and North America.

Pictured: Erenora on the porch of Arohanui ki te Tangata at Waiwhetu 
Photo by Brian Brake
Empty space, drag to resize

Empty space, drag to resize
Empty space, drag to resize
RANGI Hetet & Erenora PukeTapu-Hetet

A LIFE LONG PARTNERSHIP

CREATING TOGETHER

RESTORING TRADITIONS

WITH WHĀNAU HAPU & IWI

TEACHING

AFFIRMING THE 'OLD'

Write your awesome label here.

EXPLORING THE 'NEW'

PASSING ON KNOWLEDGE

Empty space, drag to resize
SAM Hauwaho & veranOa Hetet

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

CREATING TOGETHER

FOR WHĀNAU

WITH WHĀNAU

TEACHING

INNOVATING

SHARING THE JOY