Reihana Parata

Reihana Parata (born 1937; also known as Aunty Doe) is a New Zealand Māori tohunga raranga (master weaver) from the Ngāi Tahu iwi. For 11 years Parata was matron at the Te Waipounamu Māori Girls' College in Christchurch.

Biography Parata grew up in Lyttelton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, and attended Lyttelton West Primary School where she first started weaving. The focus of the college was on providing an education for Māori girls. While there, weaver Emily Schuster visited the college to teach the students weaving skills and Parata learnt alongside them.

In 2016, Parata and Morehu Flutey-Henare worked together to design woven mats of welcome which were installed using coloured paving stones in the rebuild of the Bridge of Remembrance area in central Christchurch.

Recognition In the 1990 Birthday Honours list, Parata was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services, in recognition of her services to weaving.

Works Collaborations:

Kahu Poa (collection of Korowai Tahi) Nga Here o Te Ao (collection of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa)