Mrs Matekino Lawless, of Rotorua, ONZM, for services to Māori art
Matekino Lawless (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Ruakawa, Tainui) has been weaving for more than 60 years. She is a founding member of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, an advisory group of senior distinguished raranga artists. She is a member of Te Roopu Kotuku Rerenga Rangi Raranga artists. Her first solo exhibition opened at Tauranga Art Gallery and toured nationally from 2018 to 2021. Her works have featured in national and international exhibitions. She and her daughter were Resident Artists at Evergreen State College in Washington State and collaborated with the Northwest Native American Basket Weavers Association. She contributed to a tukutuku panel installation at the United Nations Headquarters. Mrs Lawless is a member of Taumata Māreikura reference group, providing cultural advice to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.