For the past nine years, Heather Black has been quietly transforming lives through her Kaupapa Māori sewing classes in South Auckland. More than just lessons in sewing and garment construction, Heather’s classes offer a safe, nurturing space for Māori and Pasifika women to connect and support one another, and celebrate their cultural identity, all within an inclusive environment.

Many of Heather’s tauira (students) do not whakapapa directly to South Auckland, or even Aotearoa, but they come together as urban Māori, Pasifika and all nationalities which brings its own set of challenges she explains. “A lot of urban Māori don’t have a marae in the city— or have never been to a Marae, so we create our own space. Our workspace becomes our meeting house, where we gather as equals to share, learn, and embrace the beauty of our culture.”

Most of her tauira are first-time learners. Many arrive without resources, and some have never used a sewing machine. But thanks to Heather’s resourcefulness—and donations from past students and a curtain bank that supplies off cuts- they manage. Heather also buys Māoridesigned fabrics, where possible.

Each participant is given the tools and materials to learn in a way that’s meaningful, exciting, and empowering. Everything they make, they take home, to show their whānau.

Heather provides her classes and support for a gold coin donation, if they can afford it. She also sources low-cost sewing machines and then on-sells them to her students, at a discounted rate, once they have learnt in class how to use them. This means her tauira can continue their learning at home and pass on their knowledge to their whānau.

Her teaching approach is based around a Māori whakaaro: confidence building is just as important as mastering a stitch. “Teaching someone to design and sew a garment for themselves and their whānau is only the beginning – it is empowering for them,” she says.

Each year culminates in a vibrant fashion event held at a hall in South Auckland, where tauira showcase the garments, they’ve created. It’s more than just a runway show—it’s an opportunity for the tauira to get together and celebrate what they have learnt, with their fellow tauira and their whānau. They gain confidence, acceptance, and mana to be able to show what they have achieved.

Some will wear garments they’ve made to the show; others show embroidery using their pepeha. They swing poi, they wear kakahu (clothes) made with Māori measurements, as well as any kete and pōtae (hats) they’ve crafted themselves. The night is emceed by local personalities and judged by local fashionista. Nora Swan from Dressed in Confidence was one of last year’s judges. Prizes are also sourced from local businesses who help to support the kaupapa.

“Māori women often put their whānau and communities before themselves,” says Heather. “This event is their moment to shine, to be seen, supported, and celebrated.”

Heather’s commitment to kaupapa Māori education, including te reo, extends well beyond her weekly classes. For nine years, she’s taught at Roscommon School’s total immersion units, where rangatahi have been the first kura in Aotearoa to create their own school uniform. Students sew bags, skirts, shirts and cushions with everything rooted in te ao Māori. Heather also leads Pepeha Tuitui (stitching) workshops and Sew your Pepeha sewing wānanga, to help others see the world with a Māori view.

During Matariki 2025 Heather hosted a pepeha sewing workshop with kura teachers in Rotorua.

She incorporates traditional Māori measurements and philosophies in her pattern drafting and designs, grounded in a kete of mātauranga Māori principles.

Heather’s working week spans multiple community sites—including Rawiri Community House, Te Whare Awhina Manurewa, Activate Church Takanini, Whare Koa Māngere, Māngere East Library, Clover Park Community House, and more. In between, she tirelessly seeks funding, donations, and opportunities to support and expand her mahi.