Bay of Plenty Business News October/November 2016

22 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS October/November 2016
Inaugural Maori-focused
fashion show in Rotorua
Rotorua’s steam pools and geysers offered
an authentic framework for an inaugural
fashion extravaganza predicted to rival one
of the country’s best-known events.
By VIV POSSELT
Under the title Tiki
Ăhua, and themed
Kă Mura: Set Alight,
the September 24 event was
held at Rotorua’s famed Te
Puia, set within the historic Te
Whakarewarewa Valley.
Te Puia is the acknowledged
heart of traditional Maori arts,
crafts and culture. Home to the
world-famous Pohutu geyser,
its mud pools, hot springs and
silica formations have long
breathed life into treasures and
traditions of the past.
It is here that Maori wood
carving, weaving and carving
have been shared with visitors
for more than 170 years –
and here, last month, that Tiki
Ăhua opened a new chapter of
participation.
Inspired by the Maori
sisters of fire, Te Pȗpȗ and
Te Hoata, the event brought
together fashion designers, artists
and performers before a
500-strong audience.
The 22 designers from
Rotorua and beyond presented
a wide range of streetwear,
daywear, adornment, eveningwear
and avant-garde.
Traditional Maori arts were
presented in a completely new
way, with pounamu and bone
carvings on the runway and
live tă moko tattooing taking
place throughout the evening.
Entertainment was provided
by top-selling NZ artist Che
Fu, guitarist and singer/songwriter
Seth Haapu, X-Factor
runner-up Whenua Patuwai,
and hip-hop dance group,
Street Candee.
Te Puia general manager
sales and marketing, Kiri
Atkinson-Crean said the event
had exceeded all expectations.
Tickets had sold out three
weeks ahead, validating longterm
plans to bed in a five-year
vision for Tiki Ăhua to grow
from a one-night spectacle into
a week-long festival of art,
design, dance and culture.
“Rotorua is famous for
its traditional Maori arts and
crafts,” she said. “In fact, Te
Puia/NZMACI [New Zealand
Maori Arts and Crafts Institute]
has a mandated responsibility
to ensure those traditions are
preserved.
“But we also want to support
and highlight our contemporary
artists and designers,
and give them an opportunity
to shine. Tiki Ăhua has certainly
done that.”
New Zealand First
Rotorua Office
Fletcher Tabuteau List MP
Office Hours: 10am - 3pm
Drop in or call for an appointment
07 347 4045
Level 6, Hinemoa Tower
1154 Hinemoa St, Rotorua
PO Box 1561, Rotorua, 3042
Interest is being shown by
the world of commerce in
incorporating Leilani and Anastasia
Rickard’s Natura Aura designs into
corporate logos.
Some of the unique rainwear
and hosiery shown by Natura
Aura at the event.
Artistic director Turanga
Merito described the event as
an “epic journey … an incredibly
large magic puzzle brought
together which has been
rewarding and emotional.”
Among those featured was
Henare Jewellery designer
Nerida Johnstone. She found
the event reinforced existing
business contacts and helped
build new ones.
“I’m extremely excited
and overwhelmed, and it’s
been amazing to have been
involved.”
Ranui Samuels from Rise
Supply Co described Tiki
Ăhua as “awesome” and said it
marked the beginning of great
things.
“Fashion is an essential
part of who we are as Maori.
We are now reaching that
design into daywear, eveningwear
and couture, and extending
further than traditional art
and craft.”
Also on board for the
evening was the grandmother/granddaughter
duo making
up the Rotorua-based design
team, Natura Aura.
Anastasia and Leilani
Rickard featured in the July/
August issue of Bay of
Plenty Business News, hot on
the heels of having won the
Established Designer Award
in the Miromoda Indigenous
Maori Fashion Apparel
Competition.
They had also showcased
their work at J Model Management’s Autumn
Fashion Show in Paris in 2015,
and just a couple of months
ago, exhibited their range at
the New Zealand Fashion
Week. Some of that selection
was featured at Tiki Ăhua.
Natura Aura is making a
name for itself with its unique
fusion of fashion and science,
where microscopic images of
harakeke translate into striking
designs onto fabric.
The range is now marketed
at various North Island
stockists, and plans are in progress
for runway shows to be
The raw and eclectic
edge of Henare
Jewellery’s Nerida
Johnstone, along with
Masami clothing,
was popular on the
runway.
Rise Supply co-creator Ranui Samuels’
Papua New Guinea upbringing shone
through in his collection, with tribal
markings and military-styled streetwear.
held at popular tourist spots.
Businesses are also showing
interest in incorporating their
designs into corporate logos.
Anastasia said she and her
grandmother had found Tiki
Ăhua to be a “memorable and
enjoyable” experience.
“We’re now looking forward
to next year and the next
Tiki Ăhua.”
The success of Tiki
Ăhua prompted comment
from Rotorua Mayor Steve
Chadwick, who was a guest on
the night.
Suggesting it could become
Photos Graeme Murray/
Te Puia.
to Rotorua what the original
World of Wearable Arts event
was to Nelson, she said: “This
is a proudly Rotorua and Te
Arawa event, and it couldn’t
be held anywhere else by here
in the Te Whakarewarewa
Valley.
“It has surprised and
delighted the audience … it’s
a bit cheeky and very slick
and I don’t think it was what
anyone was expecting. It’s just
incredible.”
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