Whitney Ebony Zakaria - Kaimirimiri, Weaver, Writer & Multidisciplinary Artist

Whitney Ebony Zakaria (Ngati Korokii Kahukura) is a kaimirimiri, weaver, writer, multidisciplinary artist and māmā. As a navigator of mātauranga Māori, Whitney routinely delves into the holistic practices of mirimiri, romiromi and raranga (weaving). She is dedicated to sharing the transformative power of indigenous knowledge with an ever-growing community of learners.

A kaimirimiri is someone who guides others through mirimiri and romiromi. Whitney describes mirimiri as an exploration of the non-physical elements of a person’s well-being. Through kōrero and karakia, the mental and spiritual dimensions of their hauora are invited to present themselves. Contrastingly, romiromi addresses the ways in which an individual’s unseen dimensions manifest physically. The intention of the practice is to process stagnancy in the body. Through movement and tending to pressure points, Whitney helps people to release built-up emotional tension and trauma.

Raranga came to Whitney during lockdown in the form of an online course. Weaving was a pillar of her hauora as well as a learning opportunity. Though, she did not think her first experiences of raranga would be mediated by a computer screen and rectangular pieces of white paper. Despite this slightly strange setting, Whitney was grateful to co-create with a community of people who were in the same waka. They supported each other and their craft served as a catalyst for meaningful connection.

Today, Whitney hosts intimate raranga workshops for adults, tamariki and organisations. She knows the healing potential that exists within these expressive spaces, and she is determined to bring people home to themselves, their community and their whakapapa. One day, Whitney hopes that mātauranga Māori is as commonplace as the ritual of making a cuppa in the morning.