MARIA MCLEAN KETE WHAKAIRO

Kete is the Maori word for a woven bag. Kete whakairo is the most widely used style of kete and is generally decorated with geometric patterns.

Woven by local artist Maria McLean

Her kete whakairo are prepared and woven in the Maori tradition. Maria weaves with harakeke (New Zealand flax) grown around Rotorua.

She uses the muka (fibre) of harakeke to plait the handles, and colours the kete with commercial dyes.