Weavers

Ngati Maniapoto-Raukawa, Tainui Ngati Pikaio, Te Arawa

"In my weaving I am continually inspired by the surrounds of my maunga (mountain) Matawhaura, moana tapu Rotoiti (Lake Rotoiti), my marae Taurua and especially my whanau (family)."

Christina is a contemporary artist, acclaimed in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally for her weaving which incorporates a mixture of traditional and contemporary processes. She is also the Chair of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa. 

A skilled traditional weaver, she was tutored by expert weavers including her mother, Matekino Lawless. 

Christina's recent works still adhere to strong cultural and spiritual origins in spite of their concessions to new technology. She uses modern industrial materials such as Perspex and wire while still applying the processes and techniques of her tupuna (ancestors). This blend of influences inspires the innovative, fresh and deliberate thinking behind her works.

"My perception of whariki (woven mats) and tukutuku (panels) processes demonstrates clearly the future of the art form determined by the resource readily available to my tupuna (ancestors)."

Weaving has been her life and in the last twenty years she has shared her experiences and artwork nationally and internationally through workshops, conferences, commissions, artist residencies and exhibitions. She has exhibited, tutored and lectured on weaving worldwide and her work is in collections in USA, Europe and Australasia.