The main pae or decorative border, ‘Ngā tukemata ō Rēhua’, reflects a person's pathway of growth and development. The repeated tukemata pattern reflects our diverse experiences and learnings and the many people and places we engage with on our journey of self development, acknowledging the many sources of wisdom that shape our understanding, ngā taketake o te wānanga. The serrated notches or niho symbolise the courage, grit, determination and discipline required to attain the knowledge and skillset’s that equip us to better serve, lead and care for our families and communities. The atua Rēhua is known as a source of knowledge, wellness, healing, warmth and abundance. Rēhua is also accounted for as the star Antares - the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, a seasonal marker associated with summer, at times over this season he glows red in the sky, a colour we’ve woven throughout this design. Within our traditional stories Rēhua provides many gifts for the benefit of humanity. The multifaceted fashion of the pātiki motif, a diamond pattern symbolising abundance embellishes the side borders of this blanket as an acknowledgment of the multifaceted leaders, the knowledge sharers, and resilient stalwarts who continually contribute and provide for others. The body of the blanket is inspired by whakaairo, the art of carving and reflects haehae, rows of ridges which are commonly filled with pākati (dog tooth notches). Whakarare is another common device in this pattern where ridges are turned so that they cross and meet the ridge on the other side. This design celebrates creativity and the courage to redefine and recreate ourselves, carving our own unique journey through life, becoming - all we can be - multifaceted, unique and one-of-a-kind! This blanket is woven with 100% New Zealand Lambswool and four different weave structures have been used to enhance the design. Mataraunui has been milled and pressed to achieve a soft and smooth feel and features a blanket stitch edge. To find out more about the inspiration for this blanket, head to our journal Dimensions 134 cm x 200 cm Designed by Josh and Whakaawa Te Kani
