Skills interwoven as couple combine

Jim and Cathy Schuster at work on Rauru in Germany. Photo / Supplied

People often say behind every successful man is an equally great woman.

Heritage New Zealand's Maori heritage adviser in traditional arts Jim Schuster is the first to agree.

In Mr Schuster's case, his wife Cathy is a major support for his work, often assisting on projects around the North Island, bringing her specific skills of material preparation and other expertise.

"Although Cathy is not employed by Heritage New Zealand she often works with me," Mr Schuster said.

"We work well together, and tangata whenua of marae appreciate and acknowledge her contribution to projects."

The Lake Rotoiti residents grew up around the practice of traditional arts, with Mr Schuster's knowledge of arts resources, including their gathering and preparation, coming down through his family matauranga (Maori traditional knowledge) over generations.

For Mrs Schuster, staying with her artist uncle Cliff Whiting as a child provided early exposure to the world of traditional arts.

"When Cathy and I got together in 1973 she learned a lot from my mum, Emily, who was nationally regarded as a tohunga raranga-whatu [traditional weaving expert]," Mr Schuster said.

"Mum often travelled around the country teaching her weaving skills to people on marae.

"Cliff was doing similar projects, and we worked alongside them both at various times, not realising that we were honing skills that would later be in demand by Heritage New Zealand's Maori Heritage Team."

Both qualified teachers, the couple use their background in education to pass on skills to people.

Mr Schuster said there was a groundswell of interest in traditional arts in marae restoration with most marae communities wanting to learn the skills that produced the original artworks.

"As the artworks have deteriorated the traditional knowledge and processes that were around when they were being woven, carved or painted have long since disappeared. Cathy and I arrive at their marae to re-teach them all that lost matauranga."

In addition to projects undertaken by Heritage New Zealand, Mr and Mrs Schuster worked with the whanau at Taharua Marae in Paeroa for more than 10 years assisting with major restoration of their wharenui tukutuku and kowhaiwhai.

They also ran tukutuku workshops in London to create panels for Hinemihi, a wharenui that stands in Clandon Park, and were part of a bigger team carrying out restoration on Rauru, a wharenui in the Volkerkunde Museum in Hamburg.

In their spare time Mr and Mrs Schuster also produce their own original work, recently completing three panels made of pegboard, dowelling, kiekie (vine leaves) and pingao (golden-sand sedge) which was on display at Te Papa.

Their work will be installed in the United Nations building in New York early next year.

Mr Schuster said the biggest satisfaction they got was seeing a project completed and participants proud of their work.

"We love attending the re-opening, re-dedication ceremony, and the hapu coming to see their tupuna whare restored."