Voyagers: The Niu World | Public Programmes

Over two exclusive, hands-on workshops, spend the morning with Sulieti Fieme’a Burrows MNZM and make your own kiekie.

A longstanding cultural tradition that is unique to Tonga, kiekie are ornamental garments worn around the waist. Highly decorative and incorporating a variety of natural and manmade materials, kiekie are worn as a sign of respect and connect the wearer to ancestors and tradition.

Sulieti Fieme’a Burrows learnt nimamea'a from her mother and aunts when growing up Falevai in the Vava’u Island group of Tonga. Since moving to New Zealand as a young woman, Sulieti found, as did others in the Pacific diaspora, that traditional materials were not easily available and adapted to using what she could find here.

Using locally sourced materials, join Sulieti and learn to make your own kiekie in the setting of current exhibition Voyagers: The Niu World at Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust.

This workshop takes place over two Saturday sessions – please make sure you’re available for both sessions before signing up. Limited spaces available.

To reserve your space phone (09) 375 1665 or email programmes@tautai.org.