About Rita & Geoff Baker

My name is Rita Baker, originally from Dresden/Germany – together with my husband Geoffrey of Ngapuhi, Ngati Rangi and Te Hikutu descent we started Flaxworx.co.nz.

After 10 months of full-time study at UNITEC in Auckland, I graduated with a “Certificate in traditional and contemporary Maori Weaving” in November 2007. Geoffrey and his whanau supported me along the way and have since also taken on the “raranga bug”. Since then we have been attending various Weavers Wananga around the country (including the National ones that are held every two years) to increase our knowledge and to meet other weavers.

We have also been involved in various national and international weaving projects as part of a larger group of weavers including Karapiro World Rowing Champs, Wahakura projects around the country, the United Nations Tukutuku project, National Weavers Raranga Exhibition at Waikato Museum to name but a few.

Both of us also combine our love of photography with Raranga to create photographic art based on nature.