Girls get weaving for cultural fun in the holidays

POI E: Nikki Thomson, 13, Tiana Angus, 9, and Shakera Ford-Wereta in pyjamas making poi. Photo/Stuart Murno

Everyone was wearing their onesies and pyjamas at the YWCA holiday programme yesterday while they made poi and learned flax weaving.

"That's the theme today," said programme manager Debz Tongotea.

"We have been doing a range of cultural arts and crafts from around the world, so the students get an understanding of how girls their age live in other countries.

"They learn about the different circumstances of their contemporaries in other parts of the world, and how some of them don't get an opportunity to go to school and learn as they do."

While tutor Kathleen Parnell instructed some participants in the art of raranga harakeke (flax weaving), others were making poi from recycled materials.

"We have a good relationship with Sustainable Wanganui and we ask parents to keep things so we can use."

Poi are made with old mattress stuffing, wool and plastic bags.

The YWCA "Go Girls" holiday programmes are for girls aged 9-13, for a maximum number of 16 participants.