Pania Kararaina Nikau affiliates to Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Paoa and Ngāpuhi.

She is completing her final year of a Bachelor of Māori Arts at Maunga Kura Toi, majoring in raranga.

Pania’s journey with raranga began three years ago when she started using contemporary materials to learn the skills of whatu. As her knowledge and confidence have developed, she has moved into working with natural resources while continually challenging herself to step beyond her comfort zone.

Looking back, Pania feels that she did not choose raranga—instead, raranga chose her.

Her practice is more than a method of making. It is a place where she knows who she is and can freely express the depth of her connection to te ao Māori. Raranga has become her language, a source of healing and upliftment, and a safe place in which she can become uncomfortable enough for her skills to grow.

Her work Ngā Miri mō te Wairua (Elevation for the Spirit) brings these ideas together within a large-scale contemporary textile piece based on a korowai design.

Created from rolls of industrial plastic thread originally intended for artificial turf, the material was rescued before it reached landfill. Through months of experimentation, design and making, Pania transformed this overlooked product into an intricate, one-of-a-kind artwork.

Pāua shell and wooden dowels complete the work, while the woven form carries a strong feminine energy. The piece honours te ao Māori while also acknowledging the importance of sustainability and the creative possibilities held within discarded materials.

Its imperfections are intentionally visible. They hold evidence of the artist’s hands, the challenges encountered during its creation and the growth that occurred through the process.

Pania’s developing practice moves between contemporary and natural materials, tradition and experimentation, confidence and vulnerability. Each work becomes part of an ongoing journey towards greater knowledge, connection and creative freedom.

Because sometimes we do not choose the path that transforms us—the path chooses us.