Catherine Elizabeth Brown

Catherine Elizabeth Brown (24 October 1933 – 7 August 2004) was a New Zealand Māori tohunga raranga (master weaver), ceramicist, educator and netball coach. She affiliated to the Ngāi Tahu iwi. Brown played a pivotal role during her lifetime in educating New Zealanders about Māori arts as well as organising workshops, hui, conventions, and exhibitions on Māori arts, particularly Māori weaving. As well as educating and organising, Brown was an acknowledged master weaver and artist whose work was exhibited both nationally and internationally. Brown was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 1995 as well as the Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka award in 2000 in recognition of her contribution to Māori arts.

Early life alt=forwground has the slightly oranga Pīngao grass growing in sand. Background is the ocean and distant hills. Kaitorete Spit showing the Pīngao plant, a well-known weaving material. Brown was born to Winifred Freeman and Arnold Henley Rewi Brown on 24 October 1933 in Leeston. She attended Sedgemere Primary School, Southbridge District High School, Christchurch Girls' High School and then Dunedin Teachers' College. Because of this association she became part of a group known as the 'Tovey generation'.

Employment In 1954, after completing her education, Brown returned to Christchurch having obtained a position with the Canterbury Education Board as an itinerant advisor to teachers. Brown advised them on how to deliver the arts curriculum to their students.

Brown says of what she learnt in her life:I know how lucky I am. The knowledge that I have had passed on to me is not mine. I am the kaitiaki (guardian) for it and have the responsibility to pass it on. She was not only a master weaver but was also a ceramicist and combined those two disciplines to produce some of her works. Brown also illustrated several books and school journals. Part of her artistic work was leading teams of weavers to produce artwork for marae including her home marae Ngāti Moki.

Positions held Brown was a founding member of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa. In 1987 Brown became a Justice of the Peace. In 2000 she was awarded the Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka (Sir Kingi Ihaka Award) in recognition of her lifetime contribution to Māori arts.

In 2005 after her death a community artwork was created by people who had been influenced by her each making a ceramic pātiki (flounder). This piece is named Moeka o te Pâtiki Mohoao (Sleeping Ground of the Flounder) and has over 100 individual pieces. 1986 Karanga Karanga Wellington City Art Gallery, the Fisher Gallery in Pakuranga, Auckland, and the Gisborne Museum. 1994 Aoraki/Hikurangi Canterbury Art Gallery. 2003 Te Puawai o Ngai Tahu Canterbury Art Gallery. 2004 Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread — Te Aho Mutunga Kore Pātaka Museum, and touring internationally for three years.