This Master’s project delves into the intricate relationship between wāhine Māori and aute, exploring this traditional practice’s cultural and spiritual significance. Titled He wāhine, heaute, the study navigates under the framework of Onamata and Anamata, drawing upon the ancestral voyages across the Te Moananui-a-Kiwa and histories of settlement in Aotearoa. Through examining artefacts, such as Te Kiri o te Tane and Manu Tukutuku, the narrative unfolds, intertwining with the stories of Hina, the atua of aute. The project reflects on thefoundational understanding of wāhine Māori as kaitiaki of aute, and aute, like an umbilical cord, binds Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa and its people together. The journey involves pruning trees, reawakening traditions, and contemplating the integration of intangible and spiritual aspects of the social life of wāhine Māori, for example, in birthing practices. As we ponder thefuture of aute beyond the gallery, the study culminates in embodied knowledge, leaving the door open for further exploration in the vast and interconnected world of aute and its significance in Māori material culture.
