Reihana Parata (born 1937; also known as Aunty Doe) is a New Zealand MÃÂori tohunga raranga (master weaver) from the NgÃÂi Tahu iwi. For 11 years Parata was matron at the Te Waipounamu MÃÂori Girls' College in Christchurch.
Parata grew up in Lyttelton, near Christchurch, New Zealand, and attended Lyttelton West Primary School where she first started weaving.
In 1978, she was appointed matron at Te Waipounamu MÃÂori Girls' College Christchurch, a position she held for 11 years. The focus of the college was on providing an education for MÃÂori girls. While there, weaver Emily Schuster visited the college to teach the students weaving skills and Parata learnt alongside them.
Parata is a member of the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa (National Collective of MÃÂori Weavers in New Zealand). In 2008 Parata gained formal acknowledgement of her master weaver status in Aotearoa by being appointed to Te KÃÂhui Whiritoi by the management committee of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu and the New Zealand MÃÂori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia.
In 2016, Parata and Morehu Flutey-Henare worked together to design woven mats of welcome which were installed using coloured paving stones in the rebuild of the Bridge of Remembrance area in central Christchurch.
In the 1990 Birthday Honours list, Parata was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public services, in recognition of her services to weaving.
Collaborations: