Wirihana oversaw the project to weave 50 tukutuku panels for the United National Headquarters, New York involving over 60 weavers from around New Zealand including weavers from Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa - the national collective of Māori weavers. These panels were commissioned by the New Zealand Government[4] after New Zealand supported the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2010.[5] This gift was presented to the United Nations in 2015.[6] Prior to the presentation of the panels to the UN, 49 panels were exhibited in the exhibition Kāhui Raranga: The Art of Tukutuku at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[7]
Wirihana was commissioned to weave an installation of harakeke panels that was part of a touring exhibition called Anō te Ātaahua - Honouring the Gifts of our Elders (2000-2002) that was exhibited in Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua and Whangārei.[8]
Wirihana's weaving is often an exploration of natural materials and processes. She says: "In my weaving I am continually inspired by the surrounds of my maunga (mountain) Matawhaura, moana tapu Rotoiti (Lake Rotoiti), my marae Taurua and especially my whanau (family)."[11]
Wirihana has received funding from Creative New Zealand to develop new work and travel overseas for residencies, including a 2014 artist residency in Hawaii.[13] In 2003, Wirihana received Te Tohu Toi Kē from Te Waka Toi Creative New Zealand for making a positive development within Māori arts.[14] Wirihana is a life member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League.[10]
In 2024, Wirihana was made a Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum.[15]
Notable works
The British Museum holds five kete whakairo made by Wirihana in 1993. One is described as plaited from undyed kiekie leaf strips in an all-over twilled pattern of horizontal bands of diamonds. There is a band of check plaiting at the rim and handles made of braided muka. A second is also decorated with a diamond pattern, the third with decorative plaiting bands alternating with bands of twill, with a check weave at base and rim; the fourth has a vertical zigzag pattern known as koeaea, which is a type of whitebait); the fifth has horizontal bands of pattern with openwork.[16]
^Schamroth, Helen (1998). 100 New Zealand Craft Artist. Auckland: Random House. ISBN1869620305.
^te Awekōtuku, Ngāhuia; Campbell, Donna; Tamarapa, Awhina; Pōhio, Nathan (2021). Te Puna Waiora: the distinguished weavers of Te Kāhui Whiritoi. Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. p. 51. ISBN9781877375712.
^Kerekere, Elizabeth; Twist, Nicholas (2001). Kaumātua : anō te ātaahua = Honouring the gifts of our elders. [Wellington, N.Z.]: Te Puni Kōkiri. ISBN1-86953-513-8. OCLC53315308.
^"People: Tina Wirihana". Aotearoa Moananui a Kiwa Weavers. 10: 6. Spring 1989.
^ ab"Staff". EIT. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.