Eastern Bay weaver Glenda Hape was blown away to hear her name called out at the World of WearableArt (WOW) awards ceremony in Wellington.

“It was a very overwhelming, intense moment and one I wasn’t expecting,” Hape said of the moment she realised her design had won an award.

Entering WOW had been a long-held dream for Hape, who was thrilled to receive the Te Tohu Toi Rākei Award – particularly with whānau and friends there to support her in person.

“Having them there made the whole experience even more special.

“I had already felt like I had won just by being accepted as a finalist in my first year of entering.”

The award recognises her design, Te Whare Eke Nei, a kākahu inspired by traditional tukutuku patterns.

The title loosely translates as “The House that Moves”.

“Mahi tukutuku was my inspiration and an artform I was first taught by Christina Wirihana.

“I have produced and restored many tukutuku panels over the years. I think they are absolutely stunning, lining the walls of our wharenui, or meeting house,” Hape said.

“Tukutuku is a visual language of patterns that tell stories of whakapapa, preserves knowledge, and expresses identity within Māori culture.

“My vision was about reimagining tukutuku as a living form, released from the walls of the wharenui and carrying it on the body.”

Hape experimented with a range of materials while developing the design.

“Because the garments made for the World of WearableArt performance are very physical and go through a lot of movement on stage, the materials needed to be able to withstand that, both while the garments were being put on and taken off and during the performance itself.”

She eventually settled on plastic grid, wooden dowel and wire to bring her vision to life.

The Te Tohu Toi Rākei Award is a special WOW award celebrating Māori art and design through wearable art.

“It’s about bringing things like our whakapapa, pūrākau and Māori ways of making into a wearable piece.

“You have to have Māori whakapapa to be eligible for the award.”

The award was introduced in 2025, with Anna Hayes-Moeau taking out the inaugural award for her woven piece, Ko Au Ko Harakeke, Ko Harakeke Ko Au.

This is only the second year they’ve had the award, Hape said.

“While we were in Wellington we got to see her piece in person.”

Hape, a traditional weaver of Ngāti Pūkeko from Poroporo, was one of 108 finalists from 18 countries selected for the 2026 World of WearableArt Awards, including 54 New Zealanders.