PAETUIA - The realm of sewing

10/04/2026

I'm honoured to be invited to join the legacy of Women Who Lead, and sit in conversation with the wonderful Carla D.

Carla and I gathered and I'm really looking forward to an evening of sharing, reflection and kōrero. If you're interested in costume, textiles, stage & screen or the culture of Paetuia, we may have something for you.

Huge mihi to Carla D. for your leadership, dedication, vision and support of all wāhine, to Women's Network Whanganui and Sport Whanganui.

WOMEN WHO LEAD: Lee Erihāpeti Williams
Waikato-Tainui, Whanganui, Taranaki, Ngāpuhi, Kotimana 🗣️👗🎥

The upcoming monthly hour [and more] of power is rapidly approaching and we are thrilled to be chatting with the incomparable Lee Williams.

Lee is a Mum and Nan, Costume Designer, and Founder / Creative Director of Paetuia Studio, Aotearoa’s first Māori-led costume house. Based in her hometown of Whanganui, her creative practice is shaped through costume, textiles, dress, whakapapa, cultural storytelling, and making. With 30 years of experience across film, theatre, wearable art, and education, her career includes Wētā Workshop, World of Wearable Arts, and the New Zealand Opera School.

Through Paetuia Studio, she is committed to passing on skills, nurturing confidence, supporting community wellbeing and self-sufficiency, and uplifting local and indigenous storytelling for stage and screen. In May 2026, Lee will be the first keynote speaker at the Costume and Textile Association of New Zealand Symposium to be held at the Whanganui Regional Museum.

Women Who Lead is a partner initiative brought to you by the good folk at the Women's Network and Sport Whanganui, with venue host support from the team at Barracks Sports Bar.

09/04/2026

Walking in sunlight
to breathe, to pause, to linger
new rhythm gathers

06/04/2026

AOS in completion.

3 friends
2 weekends
300+ visitors
Lovers of textile, petal, costume
Buyers, supporters, adventurers
And a whole lot of hammering, see the vid.

Thank you all 🌟

04/04/2026

AOS in reflection.

Amanda’s Flower Pounding Workshop 🌸🔨✨

An impromptu workshop, created in response to family and friends who had delighted in the process over the first weekend. On the final Sunday, an afternoon of making.

People gathered, all excited to create their own floral compositions.
The concentration. The watching, listening, exploring.
And then, the pounding.

This was not a workshop for the tender-hearted. It was loud.
Hammers, voices, growing excitement — they were going for it.

Then came the sweet release of scent, petal, leaf, perfume, texture.
An awakening for the senses.

The concentration was unmistakable as they fine-tuned their hammering skills — the joy, the curiosity, the play, the satisfaction.

There was a deep appreciation for our gardens, our mothers’ gardens, our māra.

Thank you Jenny S. (Amanda’s Māmā) for gifting the beautiful flowers from your garden for this workshop.

And too, an appreciation for the humble calico — cloth, warp and weft.

I didn’t manage to capture their final artworks, but I saw their faces — the pure joy, the delight, the rolls of artwork tenderly tucked under their arms as they smiled, waved, and left.

A returning to yourself when you join in creation.

Thank you to everyone who came and shared. And thank you to Amanda for creating this workshop, and for choosing to share your skills, knowledge, and joy of flower pounding and embroidery.

02/04/2026

AOS in Reflection.
Some of the highlights of AOS were the beautiful people who came through Paetuia.

Old friends, former students, new faces, beloved whānau, good conversations, cups of tea, and a studio full of connection.

So grateful to everyone who travelled, visited and brought joy to Paetuia.

19/03/2026

Ata mārie koutou 💛

It's been such a busy time being back and fully in PAETUIA, with our thriving workshops, our clients and hometown's wonderful Artist Open Studios. I've missed sitting and sewing at my trusty machine - I walked over to say mōrena and this was her glowing greeting! Oh my world! ✨✨✨

My beautiful, hearty, trusty Brother, we've been inseparable for decades! She's sewn costumes for ballet, film, theatre, opera, and our very own fortunate clients. Her name is Bertha, for all the best reasons!

We don't need the latest, greatest, shiniest, new toys. We need to take care of the ones we have closest to us, and care for them, so they in their own way can care for us.

Slow down, maintain, repair, respect.

16/03/2026

PAETUIA STUDIO x AOS Weekend

What a beautiful weekend in Paetuia.

Visitors wandered in and stayed — curious about Amanda’s Tataki Zome flower-pounding process, watching her impromptu demos and hearing stories behind the work. Several pieces found new homes this weekend.

Paetuia was alive with kōrero, sunlight, beautiful mahi toi, sewing tables, and soul-filled vibe.

We were also surrounded by so much tautoko — friends and whānau from Whanganui-a-Tāra, Waikanae, Kapiti, Woodville and our own creative community stopping in to spend time together, to shop, to share. It means a lot. Huge mihi to Sarah & Niki.

And I’ve had many wonderful enquiries about sewing, pattern drafting, and costume workshops here at Paetuia — so exciting.

We're so grateful for everyone who came through the door this weekend.

If you’re exploring Artists Open Studios, come and find us upstairs at Paetuia Studio next weekend - we’d love to welcome you in.

Nā, Lee & Amanda.

16/03/2026

Tataki Zome — flowers pounded into calico.

Amanda Searle impromptu demonstration magick 🌺🔨


whanganui

16/03/2026

Evening light in Paetuia

.whanganui