Taniko pattern making

Patikitiki pattern -
Patiki or patikitiki (flounder) designs are based on the diamond shape of the flounder fish. They can be quite varied within the basic shape. According to Ngāti Porou tradition, the pātikitiki significance relates to being able to provide 100% - not only for the husband, or the whānau, but for the whole iwi. It acknowledges the fact that women were always looking for ways to supplement their food supplies, even in the dark when the flounders came, while their men were sound asleep.

Abundance, fuel for the brain, mind, imagination and dreams, a hope for favourable times

Porourangi Poutama:

This version of a Poutama (stairway pattern) was originally from a tuku tuku pattern design that was made by Ta Apirana Ngata for his house at Waiomatatini on the East Coast. This pattern is favoured by the East Coast weavers.
My mum was a teacher at the Ngata Memorial College which was named after him in Ruatoria.

The story of Papatuanuku and Ranginui, representing the intermarriage between iwi, Maori and Pakeha. The design relfects marriage with children embraced within the poutama design.

From left to right:

Poutama: The pillar shows three interpretations of the stepped poutama pattern, signifying the growth of man, striving ever upwards. In meeting houses, the panels are usually mirror imaged so that the steps climb upwards from both sides to reach the summit at the centre. This design refers to the story of Tanemahuta and his journey through the 12 heavens to obtain the 3 kete of knowledge for man kind.

Aramoana: the ocean path. The horizontal zigzags suggest pathways that the ocean and other waterways provide to many destinations. this pattern features the chevron motif dominantly

Taki Tahi: I named this pattern taki tahi after the raranga weaving technique which is the basic one over one under. It also has a similar look to the patikitiki papaki pattern which is named after the pattern seen on a harakeke fly swatter. It looks essentially the same but on an angle so the square shapes look like diamonds instead - this pattern is also favoured by the East Coast weavers