Erena's Korowai
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Amorangi Minister Erena Manihera,
master weaver Erena wove this korowai to depict her theology and understanding of ministry. It is tightly, finely woven, with brilliant colours – a true masterpiece. It is all her own design emerging from her early grounding in faith from the Maungapōhatu mission under Rev. John (Hoani) Laughton, and reflecting her home in the Urewera forest and her ministry in hāhi and marae. |
As she displays the korowai in worship at the Ruatāhuna Church she stands to tell us about it – which feels a huge honour.
She begins at the bottom. There is a wide panel across the bottom, geometric interlocking patterns of red, black and white, spaced with diamonds of blue and yellow. This is the earth, whenua ki waho, ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei.
Rising up from the earth are five collumns of images, set vividly against a black background. First, maunga, mountains, green and tipped with white snow. The backdrop of Tuhoe, the substance of the Urewera.
Then, alternating, the whare karakia and the marae of Tuhoe, four of each. Each whare is distinct, and they frame the centre of the korowai. Maungarongo is central, Ohope Marae, with the cross clearly visible marking the tipuna as Jesus Christ.
She begins at the bottom. There is a wide panel across the bottom, geometric interlocking patterns of red, black and white, spaced with diamonds of blue and yellow. This is the earth, whenua ki waho, ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei.
Rising up from the earth are five collumns of images, set vividly against a black background. First, maunga, mountains, green and tipped with white snow. The backdrop of Tuhoe, the substance of the Urewera.
Then, alternating, the whare karakia and the marae of Tuhoe, four of each. Each whare is distinct, and they frame the centre of the korowai. Maungarongo is central, Ohope Marae, with the cross clearly visible marking the tipuna as Jesus Christ.
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The central column of images is, from bottom to top:
To the left of the cross is the figure of Christ from the rooftop of Maungarongo marae, the face of Christ in a traditional carved style, holding the cross triumphant.
- ? sorry, I don’t remember what the red picture is
- Two hands clasped in warm handshake, one Māori, one Pākehā. The partnership between cultures that has always been so important to Erena.
- A fish, the ancient secret symbol of the Greek letters for Christ, used as a sign of faith and solidarity in a time of oppression
- Paipera Tapu, the Holy Bible, open to read.
- Three shepherd’s crooks
- Three candles of different sizes. Erena speaks about the importance of all generations, of building up young ones and respecting older ones.
- A lamb, he rēme, lost and alone – the lost lamb whom the Good Shepherd finds and carries home to the flock. The lamb represents all those who are lost and vulnerable.
- the baptism font
- a hand raised in prayer
- the bread and wine of holy communion
- the people gathered before the cross of Christ – te ripeka, te hāhi, whakawhanaungatanga, together at the foot of the cross.
- Te Ripeka; the cross is large, and shines brilliant with light
- above the cross is a rainbow, the promise of hope
To the left of the cross is the figure of Christ from the rooftop of Maungarongo marae, the face of Christ in a traditional carved style, holding the cross triumphant.
The two outer columns intersperse the images with a strip of bright yellow flowers. Erena explains that John Laughton would look at the wild flowers growing around the valley and call the people to go out in mission, to spread the gospel just as the flowers spread, to bring life and colour to all.
Other images in the outer columns:
Between each column are brilliant moving blue falling zigzags, blue edged with white, yellow and black, ngā awa, the rivers, and the flow of Wairua Tapu through it all.
Along the top of the korowai is te Rangi, the sky, with whetū, the stars, the sun, clouds and rain: ko Ranginui ki runga.
All the cosmos, natural and human, is held in God. Christ is in all and through all. Christian faith and Māori wairuatanga unite.
Other images in the outer columns:
- The Holy Spirit shown as a bird. The bird on the left side is flying directly upward. Erena laughs at herself: apparently when she was weaving it the korowai was upside-down, and she had intended for the bird to be flying down in descent to the people, but when the korowai was put the right-way up she realised that the bird was flying upward. So this is the Spirit rising up to the Father.
- At the top is a design representing the arms of God reaching around the people.
Between each column are brilliant moving blue falling zigzags, blue edged with white, yellow and black, ngā awa, the rivers, and the flow of Wairua Tapu through it all.
Along the top of the korowai is te Rangi, the sky, with whetū, the stars, the sun, clouds and rain: ko Ranginui ki runga.
All the cosmos, natural and human, is held in God. Christ is in all and through all. Christian faith and Māori wairuatanga unite.