Matafetu Smith
Matafetu Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mokafetu Togakilo 1931 or 1932 (age 93–94) Niue |
| Known for | Polynesian weaving |
Mokafetu "Matafetu" Smith MNZM (née Togakilo; born 1931 or 1932) is a weaver and community activist from Niue. She founded the first Niuean weaving group in Auckland, and her work is held in the collections of Auckland War Memorial Museum and Te Papa.
Early life
Smith was born in Niue in 1931 or 1932.[1][2] As a child, she watched her grandmother weave, and enjoyed dancing around her village.[1]
Career
In 1984, Smith founded the first Niuean weaving group in Auckland, called Tufuga Mataponiu a Niue.[3][4] She eventually ran several groups for women from separate villages in Niue.[5][6] In 1984, she was appointed to the Council for Māori and South Pacific Arts for a three-year term.[7] She was reappointed to a second term in 1987.[2]
Smith's sister, Eseta Patii, was also a weaver.[3] Smith is also a dancer and choreographer, working with women's groups.[1] She is also a former co-ordinator of the Niue Village at the Pasifika Festival.[4]
In 2000, Smith attended the Pacific Arts Festival in Nouméa.[8] In 2007, she accompanied the governor-general, Anand Satyanand, to Niue, where a symposium of Niuean weaving was held.[9] In 2009, she was appointed to Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Committee, alongside Frances Hartnell.[4]
Legacy
Auckland War Memorial Museum has one of Smith's designs in its collection.[10] Two woven pieces by her are in the Te Papa collection: a basket called a Kato Fuakina and an 'ei (headpiece).[11][12] Works created by weaving groups that Smith facilitated are held in the collection of the University of Auckland.[13]
Honours and awards
In 2006, Smith was one of 12 inaugural inductees as a Waitakere arts laureate.[14] She has also received the Creative New Zealand Senior Pacific Artist award.[13] In the 2026 New Year Honours, Smith was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Pacific art.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Carter, Bridget (14 May 2001). "Ace weavers make a song and dance of it". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Appointments to arts councils made". The Press. 8 July 1987. p. 12. Retrieved 1 January 2026 – via PapersPast.
- ^ a b Bentley, Paulina. "Weaving the present". Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- ^ a b c "ARTBEAT". Stuff. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Hermann, Elfriede; Kempf, Wolfgang; Meijl, Toon van (1 September 2014). Belonging in Oceania: Movement, Place-Making and Multiple Identifications. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-1-78238-416-8.
- ^ Branch, New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Historical (1993). Women Together: A History of Women's Organisations in New Zealand : Ngā Rōpū Wāhine O Te Motu. Historical Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. ISBN 978-0-908896-29-5.
- ^ "Jeweller appointed to Arts Council". The Press. 9 June 1984. p. 26. Retrieved 1 January 2026 – via PapersPast.
- ^ Middleton, Julie (1 April 2008). "A fair go for Pacific women role models: Review of Pasifika women: Our stories in New Zealand, by Sandra Kailahi". Pacific Journalism Review: Te Koakoa. 14 (1): 224–227. doi:10.24135/pjr.v14i1.935. ISSN 2324-2035.
- ^ "Niuean Community Reception". gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "t-shirt". Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- ^ "Kato Fuakina". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "'ei (headpiece)". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Weaving Residency - The University of Auckland". www.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Waitakere announces 2008 Arts Laureates". Scoop Independent News. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ^ "New Year 2026 Honours: The full list of knights, dames, honourees". The New Zealand Herald. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.