Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, Ngā Puhi

Sonia says that harakeke has been a ‘friend’ for many years, transformed by her hands into the finest quality tukutuku, whāriki, kākahu and kete whakairo.  

As a long-serving weaving tutor at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki, Sonia has passed on the knowledge of Te Wharepora to several generations of weavers. She is widely regarded for teaching in marae around Aotearoa and contributing to many Māori and iwi-lead weaving projects. 

A long-serving member of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa and elected member of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, the master class of Māori weavers, Sonia’s acclaimed kete whakairo featured prominently in the publication and exhibition of Māori weaving, The Eternal Thread: Te Aho Mutunga Kore, which toured museums in North America and Aotearoa between 2004-2006. 

However, there is no place like home, with Sonia continuing to contribute to group exhibitions with weavers connected to Ōtaki and the Toi Whakarākai programme at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.