Mere Keating is of Irish / Maori descent. (Ngati Apa , Whanganui River, Raukawa, Hauiti, Tuwharetoa,Maniapoto.)
Mere has been weaving since 2002 . Weaving became an obsession, a passion when Amanda Brooke introduced her to the “ flax weaving bug.” Mere regards, Hemoata Henare of Moerewa in the Bay of Islands as her weaving mentor.” Hemo taught me the tikanga of raranga harakeke”
Mere weaves everyday and has a stall at the Whanganui River Traders market on Saturdays and also exhibits her work from time to time. Her website where current work may be viewed and purchased is at, www.flaxweaving.co.nz as well as at the Whanganui Museum Shop . More information about her can be found at Whanganui Open Studios,
Mere loves to share her passion and knowledge of traditional/contemporary raranga harakeke and regularly takes workshops.
Teaching to weave is always a learning experience for me. I enjoy the pleasure of assisting others to learn to weave and the joy shared when someone else knows how to weave flax into a kono or a kete or a mat. It is a real achievement to create something from harakeke that grows in your garden or in the wild.