Poutama

Tia Venning

September 2021

‘Poutama’ is a metaphor for the many challenges we each face as we strive for hauora; the Māori philosophy of health and well-being. Each ‘stitch’ is a reference to a particular wero (challenge) that I face in my own life that I have to work on to achieve more balance in my own mental wellbeing.

The Poutama (step-like pattern) is found in many tukutuku (Māori woven panels). To some, the Poutama symbolises a journey to become better people through striving for higher levels of attainment and personal growth; with each step a wero to face and overcome. The woven ‘X’ shaped stitches lash the kaho and kākaho (front and back of the panel) together. Much like how each binding stitch of the Poutama is made with collaboration, so too is my personal journey to balance.