An exhibition celebrating master weaver Roka Hurihia Ngarimu-Cameron has brought together treasured works and whānau stories in Cromwell.
An exhibition celebrating master weaver Roka Hurihia Ngarimu-Cameron has brought together treasured works and whānau stories in Cromwell. The display has now closed because of remedial maintenance required in the exhibition space.
By Webfit News | 10 November 2026
A lifetime devoted to Māori weaving has been celebrated at Te Puna Mahara, Cromwell Memorial Events Centre, through an exhibition connecting the work of Roka Hurihia Ngarimu-Cameron, MNZM, with the generations she taught and inspired.
Te Whiri Tuku Iho o Roka – Roka’s Woven Legacy brought together a collection developed over decades, offering visitors an insight into her creative practice and the ancestral knowledge behind her work.
According to the exhibition’s media release, Roka combined ancestral techniques with different materials and modern technologies, continually exploring the possibilities of mahi raranga while sharing her skills with others.
For curator Lisa Phillips, presenting the exhibition carried a deeply personal responsibility. She had supported her mother through exhibitions over many years and learned weaving as one of her students.
Taking the lead on this collection meant telling Roka’s story through both relationships.
“This exhibition tells the story of our whakapapa, our genealogy, and the people who came before us. Every taonga carries a story, a memory, and a connection to our ancestors. To see those stories brought together and displayed so beautifully in one space has been incredibly special for our whānau,” Lisa said.
She said her mother’s teaching extended well beyond the practical skills needed to create each piece.
“Mum devoted her life to preserving and sharing the traditions of te whare pora. Through her weaving she taught generations of people not only the practical skills, but the history, values, and cultural knowledge that sit behind every piece.”
The exhibition reunited old friends and introduced new audiences to Roka’s life and practice.
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley acknowledged the generosity of the whānau, who shared their time, knowledge and family stories alongside the treasured works, helping visitors connect with the person behind the collection.
Roka’s husband of more than 50 years, Kerry Cameron, believed she would have been honoured to share the work of her Te Whare Pora and introduce visitors to the traditions that shaped her life.
Lisa and her whānau thanked assistant curator Kristin O’Sullivan Peren, Te Puna Mahara staff and the supporters whose expertise, time and aroha helped bring the exhibition together.
They also acknowledged local mana whenua, whose guidance and tautoko were integral to its presentation.
Te Whiri Tuku Iho o Roka – Roka’s Woven Legacy has now closed because of remedial maintenance required in the exhibition space and the need to protect the precious items on display.
The media release says the next exhibition for the space will be announced in the coming weeks.
For Roka’s whānau, the legacy celebrated in Cromwell reaches beyond the collection itself. It continues through the people she taught, the knowledge she shared and the generations carrying her craft forward.
Photo caption: Representatives and contributors who helped bring Te Whiri Tuku Iho o Roka – Roka’s Woven Legacy to Te Puna Mahara, Cromwell Memorial Events Centre. From left: David Scoones, Kristin O’Sullivan Peren, Genevieve Chrystall, Tamah Alley, Lisa Phillips, Kerry Cameron, Anna Harrison and Will Harris.
Photo credit: David Oakley.
Source: Supplied media release dated 10 November 2026.
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