Tauaki Tapa with Ebonie Fifita and Friends

Join artist Ebonie Fifita alongside friends in their practice of tauaki. Tauaki is a regular practice on a hot sunny day in Tonga of unfolding cherished tapa treasures stored in the family home, allowing them to breathe, tending to them, and refolding them with additional layers of shared stories. Ebonie will also be hosting one special tauaki where you can bring your own cloths to unfold and learn from together.

Ebonie will welcome people over the weekend to tauaki several works currently in her care. You are invited to observe and join in conversations with Ebonie and friends as they unfold, care for, and learn from these cloths to inform and enrich relationships for ongoing collaborations. Tapa being cared for in this time include a ngatu that serves the Point England Kindergarten community, ngatu from the homes of friends in Maui, Taranaki, Whangarei, Whakaoriori, and Tamaki, ceremonial ngatu belonging to family, and some intriguing siapo, masi, lafi and ngatu that Andrew Pendergrast at KIWA Art has generously allowed us to borrow.

Bring your own cloths
Sun 22 October, 2pm - 4pm | free, bookings are required

Bring your own cloths for a special tauaki hosted by Ebonie Fifita. You will be invited to unfold your own treasured tapa cloths and learn from them together. Bookings are required for this special opportunity and, if you can, please email an image and any information you have about your cloth to public.events@maritimemuseum.co.nz.
Light refreshments provided.