Cathy lives at Lake Rotoiti, near Rotorua with her husband James. They have 3 grown up children and 9 mokopuna. She learned to weave from James’ mother Emily, and over the years has become proficient and fully immersed in many of the weaving arts, including piupiu, raranga, whatu muka, and tukutuku. As the passion grew she decided to leave her teaching career and became a full time weaver in 2005. 

Cathy has worked closely with James on many projects over the last 20 years, including heritage restoration of wharenui artworks, both here and overseas, and new marae projects across the country, working with the people of the marae helping them to create their own taonga and restore their traditional skills. Her teaching background has been invaluable in this mahi. She also contracts to schools and performing arts groups to make piupiu and other costume pieces, specialising in traditional material resources and techniques. She and James helped set up the weaving collective, Te Roopu Raranga ki Rotorua, in Emily’s memory. She has continued to develop her weaving skills, while making lifelong connections and friendships.