Tirimata's Kakahu Creations

Tirimata's Kakahu Creations Hi my name is Tirimata Murphy and I design and make creative contemporary Kakahu cloaks for all size Hi my name is Tirimata Murphy I live in Kaitaia.

I am originally from Onewhero near Tuakau, whanau name Ewe. My interest in weaving came about when my daughter was about to graduate from Waikato University a light bulb went off in my head, I needed to learn to weave 🙂 So I got in contact with Polly (Pare) Nathan, who was starting a 6 month course Whatuora Wananga that was held at Roma Marae in Ahipara during the weekends. It was a beginners cour

se, and during that time, we learnt so much working with a variety of materials, learning to skin a bird to preserve the feathers for when you needed to use them instead of plucking the bird, to collecting kuta, dying feathers, making bags, was priceless and an enjoyable wananga. Such an amazing journey this begun in 2016, your first one that you complete you give away, I gifted my first to my god daughter Jahdean Ewe. The course I had taken I have many memorable memories, made amazing friends whom I keep in touch with. The camaraderie amongst us all, showed through our mahi (work), and we all were spoilt with the most delicious foods. Aunty Polly made sure we where all well catered for. :)

Over time I had created many Kakahu learning the designs, adding new ideas as I went along, I was spell bound by this creation that I already knew what I was going to make next. This is what it does, your inner self has so many amazing ideas that it comes through to your designs that you create. It took me 2 years to make Kayla's Kakahu, when I had completed it, I was so overwhelmed with emotion, for what I had designed our daughter, she was going to be wearing it when she graduated which was in 2018. Weaving using only your hands is a craft that I feel privileged to have learnt and grasped. I am still learning every day with weaving and am inspired by other peoples' work in Kakahu. The skills that you learn and than put into your work is amazing. My feathers I use are either gifted to me from friends, or I buy my Emu and Peacock feathers from a local farmer :) I feel so blessed to have a selection of feathers, that are all local :) That as I weave for whoever I am weaving for it is nice to share with the family where the feathers came from, but I too like hearing your story and portraying it into my cloaks. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, this has been an amazing journey, I wish for all people to have a go. May you find treasures in your heart to be weaved into a story for all to see. Nga mihi
Tirimata Murphy

Hi AllI would like to take this opportunity in sharing with you one of my very first pieces i had sold at the Artisan Af...
01/09/2026

Hi All
I would like to take this opportunity in sharing with you one of my very first pieces i had sold at the Artisan Affair that was held at Te Ahu Centre Kaitaia July 2022.
I had created so many pieces of Kakahu during Covid lock down. I had found out about this event through Geraldine Pennell as she was running the event at the time. I asked her how I go about bringing my creations to the Artisan Affair, she emailed me the form to fill in and return.
I have to be honest I was very hesitant and nervous. I had no idea what the outcome would be or if anyone remotely be interested. I wasn't going to go but my husband already paid so I couldn't back out.
Before the day I did a mock up of how I wanted my Kakahu to be displayed and I am wrapped i did.
I so remember those days so like it was yesterday.
When I arrived at Te Ahu people were already setting up. All different types of creations. My nerves were at a high 😊 as I placed my Kakahu lovingly on display my world changed.
From the time the doors were opened to the public for the whole 2 days. I was blown away by the interest and how much my art meant to so many people. I was overwhelmed with the amount conversations I had but it was the first one I sold blew me away ❤️
Kermit brought Small Steps 😊 how ironic for this is so like how i had started my journey taking small steps along the way 😊
From that day forward doors have continued to open. My daughts helped me with getting my Tirimata's Kakahu Creations on Facebook 2022.
I learnt lots from that event, I appreciated all the feedback i feel so humble from what I create and share with you all ❣️
Thank you all so much blessings always ❤️
Keep smiling sunshine 😊

Awesome thank you for your support
06/07/2026

Awesome thank you for your support

🎉 WINTER RAFFLE WINNERS DRAWN! 🎉
A huge thank you to everyone who purchased tickets in our Winter Raffle and helped support the PKF Stewart Russell Scholarship Fund 💙🎓
Thanks to your support, we're able to continue investing in the future of students in our local community.
And now for the moment you've all been waiting for...

🏆 Winner #1: Ticket Number 36 – Billie Denison
🏆 Winner #2: Ticket Number 134 – Far North Rod & Custom Club (who have kindly donated to the Kaitaia Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA)

Congratulations! 🎉 We'll be in touch to arrange delivery of your Hay Bricks, generously donated by Jones Hay 🙌

Thank you again to Jones Hay Ltd for their support and to everyone who bought a ticket. Every ticket sold makes a difference.

📢 Don't forget — applications for the 2026 PKF Stewart Russell Scholarship open in August. Keep an eye on our page for more details!

Hi All I want to share with you all this Kakahu that I have created using Emu feathers that was gifted to me from Rosco ...
05/07/2026

Hi All

I want to share with you all this Kakahu that I have created using Emu feathers that was gifted to me from Rosco Pennell ❤️ I love weaving with Emu they are a delicate feather that looks absolutely beautiful on Kakahu when completed.
I have used NZ Felt wool and Alpaca wool from Peru 😊
Thank you so much for your continuous support ❤️ your messages and queries regarding how I weave.
As I explain. I weave using a piece of wood with 120 small nails, you start from the bottom and weave your way up, it's very therapeutic especially when you complete a Kakahu ❤️
I am so thankful to have been taught by one of the best Pareaute Nathan aka Aunty Pare back in 2016. She taught me so much and I am very grateful for what I learnt ❤️
Thank you all so much and keep smiling sunshine ❣️

Hi All I want to take this opportunity in thanking a very dear friend of mine Rosanne Tunstall for being such a kind and...
16/06/2026

Hi All
I want to take this opportunity in thanking a very dear friend of mine Rosanne Tunstall for being such a kind and thoughtful caring soul 💜
She took the time to pluck her birds, cleant the feathers and individually put them in plastic bags, putting them in the freezer to get rid of any mites in the feathers to keep them clean and fresh for when I need to use them 😊💕
Rosanne is also a member of the Kaitaia Floral Arts where I met her when I was exhibiting my Tirimata's Kakahu Creations as a guest ❣️
I have more beautiful people who do similar kindness but she goes way and beyond 😊
Not only does she drop off feathers but also after a workshop at Kaitaia Floral Arts she also drops off her flowers that she creates ❤️
Thank you always my beautiful friend big hugs always ❣️

Hi All I just wanted to share with you a Kakahu I have created using 14PL Waverley Merino wool and a massive THANK YOU t...
06/05/2026

Hi All
I just wanted to share with you a Kakahu I have created using 14PL Waverley Merino wool and a massive THANK YOU to Bronnie Travers Double Trouble for kindly donating to me one of her white roosters that has come out beautiful.
I had gone out to her place to pick up the rooster, she had kindly put them in a separate cage to make it easier to catch and to cull them. Being brought up in the country I use to watch dad having to kill cows, pigs, or chickens so I was quite prepared for how the rooster would be killed. As she was holding this beautiful rooster I was doing a prayer of thank you for what I am about to receive and how grateful I am in being gifted this Taonga. So once again thank you my friend 🧡 so appreciate what you did for me blessings ❣️
When I got them home I plucked them and washed the feathers, then put them in a pillow case tied up and put in the dryer 😊 all part of my process
This is what I love about my creations they have stories to go with them ❤️ my feathers are local and loved 😊
Thank you to PKF Far North for your continuous support of my Tirimata's Kakahu Creations being displayed in the office really appreciated 😊
Thank you so much for your support and messages they mean alot to me.
Have a beautiful day and keep smiling sunshine 😊

Hi All Just wanted to share with you one of my latest Kakahu Creations 😊A massive THANK YOU to Rachel Pickett and Heath ...
05/04/2026

Hi All
Just wanted to share with you one of my latest Kakahu Creations 😊
A massive THANK YOU to Rachel Pickett and Heath and her father Roger for picking up off the road this beautiful Peahen female Peacock and dropping off to me 🥰 She was a huge bird my second female I've ever had in my collection ❤️
I would of taken photos but she was pretty bad so only salvaged what I could. After plucking her I washed the feathers, I put them in a pillow case tightly tied up and put in the dryer 😊 they come out so fluffy and clean
I used jute string and black wool
My pictures do this Kakahu no justice but loved weaving her 💕
Thank you always for your continuous support throughout my Tirimata's Kakahu Creations
Have a beautiful day and keep smiling sunshine 😚

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Kaitaia

Opening Hours

Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+642108819146

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