Tūhourangi – Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Edna Pahewa is a master weaver, well respected and much loved within the world of raranga and known for her delicate skills in whatu kākahu. Her knowledge and understanding of raranga is generational, he tāonga tuku iho.  

Steeped in raranga and whatu from a young age, Edna was taught by her mother, Emily Rangitiaria Schuster and kuia Ngatai Bubb. Like them, Edna has been instrumental in revitalising raranga and whatu within whānau, hapū and iwi, and succeeded her mother as Tumu of Te Rito, the school of weaving at the National Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, holding that position for 18 years. Edna continues to share her expertise and ensures that the legacy of her whānau is retained by her tamariki and mokopuna.  

Edna is a long-standing member of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, first elected to the national Committee in 2001 and serving as Chair from 2005-2011. Among many achievements, her greatest legacy as head of TRRWoA and Te Rito was the establishment of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, the class of master Māori weavers acknowledged by their peers, which was her mother’s long-held aspiration. Thus, it was a wonderful day when Edna was elevated to Te Kāhui Whiritoi at the 2023 Weavers National Hui and welcomed with open arms.  

While incredibly humble about her achievements, Edna has participated in many national and international weaving exchanges and contributes to wānanga raranga within Aotearoa and abroad. Through these opportunities, Edna is part of a global community of weavers who share, exchange and enliven traditional cultural knowledge about the art of weaving. In her mahi, Edna continues to emphasise the importance of memories, tikanga Māori and the future direction of Māori weaving.