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Cora-Allan

@_coraallan_

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Niue (Liku/Alofi)
Māori (Ngāpuhi/Ngātitumutumu)
Hiapo practitioner
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@te_papa

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Two years ago I was asked to curate an exhibition with a Pacific kaupapa in mind, after working with me as an artist the curators at CAG thought I might be a good fit for this project.

I felt honoured to be invited and went straight to the Otago museum archives to see what tupuna might be able to take part and see how the connections of tapa and textiles stretch all the way to the contemporary artists used in the show.

Each tāoga was handpicked and spaces designed just for them as they needed particular conditions.

The whole team @chchartgallery are a wonderful brainy bunch and I really enjoyed coming up with the little details that would go on to make this show a success.

Here are some behind the scene snippets and details taken in Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū by @_coraallan_

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15 days ago

I took in an artwork each week to share some of my world with the students I teach.

I would begin with questions like what is it made of? Where do you think it’s from?

This instigated some fun discussions that led them to further research the artists online to find out more information was exciting as some of the works really resonated with them. One work produced silence and blank stares 🤣 from students but it was also important to introduce the work at the beginning of the day.

I don’t know what’s cool with this generation but small activities like this help me learn about the art they have been exposed to and also what they think art is.

Ngā mihi @kereamataepa @workshoplife @tuiemmagillies @simonlewiswards

Simon’s lolly bag was definitely the highlight this term @simonlewiswards by @_coraallan_

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21 days ago

Rene Richardson (Tukuitonga)

From the villages of Tamakautoga and Alofi North the beautiful and talented Rene lives on Niue with her husband Ian and daughter Coco.

They have become my family on island and look after me every-time I go, going as far as making sure I get to play my new favourite sport Walking Netball.

Rene celebrated a big birthday this year and I wasn’t able to make the celebration but was able to gift her Tiputa that I secretly made at a special dinner in Niue as we celebrated both of our birthdays.

Rene is a supporter of the arts and has been a huge reason why Niue feels like home to me, she has introduced me to everyone and helps get my hiapo work out to as many people that we meet.

Fakaaue lahi ma Rene for being a woman who fights and strives for our culture to be known, shared and adored by many.

In the first and last image she is standing in her magafaoa fonua Tongalupo which is also my favourite sea track to swim in.

@missi_fonu by @_coraallan_

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2 months ago

In 2024 I visited the Brooklyn Museum and was able to do some research work and make close observations of two Tiputa that are in their care.

Recently it was brought to my attention by a curator friend in Aotearoa after she spotted it in a reel on Instagram. Featuring in a recent exhibition at Brooklyn Museum - Iris Van Herpen : Sculpting the senses this beautiful Tiputa from Niue is having its first moment to shine and has not previously been exhibited (to my knowledge)

This particular Tiputa interested me as it has a large amount of text on the bottom of the Tiputa and is legible and in good condition. This text is a marker of the changing world and English influence during the colonial period in Niue.

You can also see a small strip of fabric hand sewn onto the tiputa which is also another hint of introduced materials onto the island through trade, export and missionary travellers.

This tiputa is one of two held in the Brooklyn Pacific collection and will be on display until December 6, 2026 for those who want to visit a historical Niue tāoga.

#tiputa
#hiapo taken in Brooklyn Museum by @_coraallan_

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2 months ago

In this episode, I sit down with @_coraallan_ at her studio in Tāmaki Makaurau.

You’ll hear her talk about how important materials are in facilitating a connection to family and Niuean community, not least of all, tea towels, the nuances of sharing knowledge of the hiapo tradition, her very personal, but almost unintentional beginnings, of a hiapo practice that now defines who she is, and, I think one of the most unexpected, but fantastic and romantic answers I have ever got to that final question I always ask.

Images of Works

1. Hiapo Tiputa, 2019
2. Flora and Fauna study, 2020
3. Framing Tamanuiterā I – III (cyanotype on hiapo), 2025
4. Ko Ao Ko Ao Ko Aotearoa, 2023
5. Mauri I (from the series Mauri), 2023 by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

Fotia Fakahilimai Lafaiki my Nana and a huge part of my hiapo journey. My first visit to see Hiapo was with Nana which shapes the way in which I practice Hiapo and hold our Niue knowledge like the tāoga that it is.

For my birthday this year my husband created a beautiful tāoga that I finally put on today as I’ve been to sad (miss her sad) to try it on.

Daniel used the cyanotype process to put an image of Nana hugging our sons with the hiapo I created and was used for her funeral onto a hoodie.

It was his first time ever doing it and after watching me and reading up about it this beautiful tāoga was made on his first try.

This was my first large piece that I initially made thinking about my own burial hiapo and Nana was really good at giving me thoughtful critique and encouragement because I didn’t like it 😂

This is the first hug the kids had been able to give her after COVID lock downs ended.

We think of Tiputa as our garments that carry our loved ones our cultural connections and celebrate our Niue pride. This tāoga does all of that for me and I absolutely cried like a baby when I opened up this gift.

Fakaaue lahi ma Daniel for knowing I’d want something special and for paying attention to my art processes 😂☠️

The most beautiful way to remember pur loved ones is to wear their memories 🕊️🇳🇺 by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

Tiputa fonua

I was gifted this material from Raewyn Pasene in Ōtautahi after she found this huge piece of dyed tapa from a garage sale.

After having it for over a year before painting it i didnt know who would be able to fit this massive piece of hiapo and give it the energy that it needs. This is the heaviest Tiputa I have had to prepare but lucky it found the perfect person to show its full beauty through dancing.

Ioane Aleke Fa’avae needed something to wear on stage as the leader of the Mutalau group for Hologa last year and i knew exactly what to give him.
As a man that loves Niue and works tirelessly to uplift Niue culture it has been an honour to be in his orbit and witness his talents.
Io and his wife Sophie alongside their sons Te Ahu and Kai have been supporters of my hiapo mahi since day one and I’m so grateful for that support and love playing with the boys.

Higoa Magafaoa: Fa’avae
Maaga: Matakavi of Fulala and Fufou in Mutalau.

🌴 🌊 ☀️ 🐟 by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

One of the biggest champs from our beautiful island is the famous Leitualaalemalietoa Lynn Lolokini Ikimotu Pavihi (MNZM)

I know her as Lolo and had the honour of her being my first Vagahau Niue teacher. She is currently the Assistant principal at Favona primary school and has been serving in education for over 19 years.
In 2024 she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to Pacific education.

Placing Tiputa in another context, Lolokini wore her tāoga to support and promote cervical and bowel screening in Aotearoa. Dressing in cultural attire, her Tiputa is seen in many medical centres supporting this important campaign and I loved bumping into the poster at our local GP. Tiputa is worn for whatever celebration or event the recipient deems important.

This Tiputa was made as a gift to Lolokini after seeing her relentlessly serve in our community I wanted to make something to show my appreciation as I know how much she sacrifices for our people so they get the opportunity ti connect to Niue culture.

Fakaaue lahi ma Lolokini for all you do

🌊 Do the mahi get the treats 🇳🇺

Higoa magafaoa: Ikimotu Pavihi
Maaga: Hikutavake and Avatele

*apologies for low res images by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

Tiputa for the twinnies 🇳🇺 🇼🇸

My talented friend Tyla Vaeau approached me about getting some Tiputa made for her nephews way a head of time so I was able to put them on my Tiputa list last year. Their mum Dee and Tyla are a wonderful example of supportive sisterhood and alongside their brother Hiram the Vaeau family studio is a gift to the world.

With each Tiputa I am given information about the recipient and let the lines flow how they will. Many of the patterns appear when I think of their families journey and the knowledge carried within their communities. I enjoyed putting some flag colours in these Tiputa.

Here is Zinzan and Amanau with their big cousin Inoke on their first day of school and his first day of his last year at the school.

Matua tane: 🇳🇺Maiko/Kamutoa - Alofi
Matua fifine:🇼🇸 Vaeau - Salea’aumua, Safune by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

I was approached by artist Lina Marsh who is of Niue and Māori descent (like me 🥳) to make a Tiputa tāoga for her whole magafaoa to enjoy.

Her daughters Grace and Kowhai Cleland-Pottie and nephew Elyjah Koti have all celebrated achievements with their beautiful Tiputa.

Lina’s mum (Kathleen) has only been back to Niue once since she left at the young age of 3 which makes this type of tāoga an important bridge for the future generation and present to see their mokopuna cloaked in hiapo.

Lina and her husband Robert Cleland-Pottie commissioned this piece from me with dreams of it being worn by as many of their family members as possible and I feels so happy watching this Tiputa get its many moments to shine.

Higoa magafaoa: Marsh
Maaga:Tuapa
Iwi: Ngāpuhi

🇳🇺 Niue ki mua chehuuuu!!! by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

I had the privilege of making this tiputa for the hifiulu of Quincy Roebeck.

As you can see there is colour in the tiputa as I felt it would suit the wairua that he holds with the whale pattern representing his connection to the ocean and his islands Niue and Samoa.
I have known the Roebeck magafaoa since I was little and it was a very special day and the hall was so beautifully decorated.
🇳🇺🌊🥰

Higoa magafaoa: Richmond
Maaga: Avatele by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago

A tiputa made for Tony Sihamau to celebrate a big achievement in his life. I used ovava (banyan) for the tassles of this tiputa and absolutely love how the colours complement one another. During the beating process the ovava goes from white to brown as it oxidises and is a nice type of bark to Tukituki hiapo as i find it more forgiving than others.

Higoa matua fifine : Makalima
Maaga : Liku Tama Haleleka

Higoa matua tane : Sihamau
Maaga: Tuapa Uhomotu

Made from the fonua 🇳🇺🌊 🌱

Fakaaue lahi ma Tony and whānau for trusting me with this tāoga. by @_coraallan_

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3 months ago