He kete he korero
every kete has a story
by Toi te Rito Maihi and Maureen Lander
Penguin Group, 2008, softcover, 111 pp

He kete he korero is one of those books that I pick up to review and then get engrossed in.  With this collection of short stories, it is easy to think "oh I'll just read THIS one" and then find one is not enough.

This collection of reminiscences is drawn from the rich store of information and memories associated with kete, these much loved but often overlooked "baskets of knowledge".  Some stories are short, others grow with the telling.  All are told with warmth, humour and humility, giving us insight into how the humble kete so often helps to establish ongoing friendships and relationships.

Some stories are told by the kete makers.  They tell about the process of weaving a kete - learning the techniques, gathering and preparing the materials, then bringing everything together in the designing and making of the kete.  Others are related by people whose kete have been passed on to them by family members, friends, noted weavers, or even strangers.  These kete have come to be treasured by their owners as taonga imbued with the memories they carry.  Their stories are often poignant, bringing back glimpses of earlier times and people who are no longer with us.

Each story is accompanied by a full page colour photo of the kete, or the kete and its maker.  Some are fine and very old, others coloured like the popular modern kete, and others are quite simple but carry a less than simple story.

A gorgeous book that any craftsperson will enjoy.