Britta Conrad

Having arrived to live in NZ/ Aotearoa in 1990, I was soon drawn to the maori art of flax weaving. In my home country I learned spinning wool and knitting from my mum and have been doing crafts like macramee and beadweaving , so my fingers were itching to give harakeke/flax a go.
Over 20 years I had several teachers, maori and pakeha alike, and also attended a 1 year study course in raranga with North Tech that was held in the Hokianga, which gave me an even deeper insight of the maori artform.
In 2018, due to a work injury I had to change careers and it was then that I made my hobby my work, selling my weaving at markets and teaching workshops, weaving waikawa baskets.
Last year, in 2024, I retired and now have an outlet for my work at the SW Gallery here at my home, the Rakaunui Artsvillage in Mangawhai. I will also continue to show my weaving in the odd exhibition.
I have a great respect and admiration for this sacred art form of the maori culture and feel blessed and humbled to be able to contribute to keep this taonga/treasure alife.