Revival tapa tradition

Tongan mother and daughter on mission to revitalise tapa tradition

The work of Sulieti Fieme'a Burrows and Tui Emma Gillies is now on display in Auckland at Falevai Flava , a collaborative art tapa project.

The pair worked alongside locals once they realised the art of making ngatu hadn't been done in Falevai village for decades.

Sulieti Burrows said she celebrates the revitalisation of the old artform, but going back evoked a lot of memories, including one of her mother hitting the bark of the mulberry tree.