Weedmatt stencilling hui at Massey University, Wellington
October found the Te Waituhi ā Nuku: Drawing Ecologies team gathering at Massey University, in Wellington to stencil the first roll of hemp weedmatt for the Waikōkopu stream restoration project at Kuku. It was stencilled with our homemade biochar ink: biochar from the last burn at Kuku was ground by hand in a mortar and pestle, then mixed with methyl cellulose to create a non-toxic ink/paint. A hand-cut stencil was used to paint the image on to the weedmatt. The image is an interpretation of Waewae Pakura; a traditional tukutuku and carving pattern, based on the swamp hen’s feet – the footprints of the Pukeko.
This stencilled weedmatt drawing is a test run for a larger and more ambitious project; to line a large section of the stream with Waewae Pakura weedmatts. A seperate weedmatt will be exhibited at the Govett Brewster Art Gallery in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth , Taranaki, in their upcoming exhibition, Te Au: Liquid Constituencies. After the exhibition, the exhibited weedmatt drawing will return to the farm, and join the others, streamside, to support the revegetation of the Waikōkopu stream ecosystem.
https://govettbrewster.com/exhibitions/te-au-liquid-constituencies
Thanks to Advance Landscape Systems for their enthusiasm for this project. This weedmatt is made from NZ grown hemp and wool!
Special thanks to Lisa Munnelly and the Textile Design department at Massey University.
Heartfelt thanks, as always, to the Te Waituhi ā Nuku: Drawing Ecologies team; especially Emma, Jonathan, Lisa, Maria, Huhana and Ciaran who gave up their weekend to grind charcoal and make a mess!
Photos by Maija Stephens, documentary photographer for Te Waituhi ā Nuku: Drawing Ecologies group, working alongside the Deep South National Science Challenge, Phase 3: Manaaki i ngā taonga i tukua mai e ngā tupuna: investigating action-oriented climate change transitions to water-based land uses that enhance taonga species 2020-2022.
Words by Monique Jansen