Matekino Lawless

Name
Matekino Lawless
Iwi/Ethnicity
Ngāti Maniapoto/Māori
Ngāti Whāwhākia/Ngāti Naho/Māori
Date of birth
Feb 1928
Gender
Female
Biography
Matekino Lawless (née Onehi) was born in Te Awamutu, introduced to raranga (weaving) at a young age.

Early in her career, Lawless joined a number of groups and organisations to assist in the reclamation and sharing of raranga knowledge, including the national weaving association, Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, and later as a founding member of Te Roopu Raranga ki Rotorua.

Lawless is a Toi Iho artist and a member of Taumata Māreikura, a reference group that offers expert advice and cultural knowledge to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. She is also a founding member of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, a group of tohunga raranga (master weavers) recognised for their contributions to the artform.

In 1999, Lawless was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her service to community development and education. In 2008, she received a Creative New Zealand Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka Kingi Award, followed by the supreme Te Waka Toi Award in 2015.