Taaniko

Taaniko (taniko, in Maori language) is a textile art created by Maoris from New Zealand, most probably in the fifteenth century AD. Traditionally no utensil or loom is needed for its realisation. It is a complete fabric, since it has warp and weft. Its weaving are part of the first techniques that humanity invented to transform fibres in fabrics.

Maori people arrived in Aotearoa nowadays called New Zealand, in various migrations waves between the tenth and fifteenth from eastern Polynesia. They had to adapt their culture and economy to the new environmental conditions. Thus taaniko appeared, woven from the fibre of the Phormium Tenax plant, to the detriment of traditional Polynesian tapa, which was used until then as clothing.

The European colonisation of New Zealand meant the marginalisation of Maori people so that in the late 70s of the twentieth century taaniko was almost a lost art. But in the 80's Maori leaders began to initiate recovery programs of Maori culture and language. Thanks to that effort Maori art has returned to occupy its high quality and prestige position.

For taaniko art, this has meant the revival of ancient technique and designs, but also its reinterpretation through greater freedom of the craftsmen. Although the colours used are the same as before (black, white, red, green and blue) and the lines remain simple (without detail and with an intuitive sense of rhythm and balance), new ways of design have appeared with spirals and figurative images. Freedom has also allowed the use of new materials and Pakeha (non Maori people) can learn and enjoy weaving taaniko.