(L-R) H.E. Patrick Rata, New Zealand High Commissioner, Hon. Minister of State for External Affairs and for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita and FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi
The New Zealand High Commission, in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Education New Zealand (ENZ), presented an evening celebrating Matariki — the Māori New Year — through the lenses of culture, creativity, and sustainability. The event, entitled RE/NEW: A Time to Shine, was a fashion show, put together by twelve young designers from five institutions — the National Institute of Fashion Technology and Pearl Academy in India, and Auckland University of Technology, Massey University and Whitecliffe College in New Zealand.
The designers presented ensembles they had collaboratively worked on for two months, fusing indigenous Māori concepts with Indian textiles and techniques. This cross-cultural collaboration reflected the values of Matariki — remembrance, renewal and community — and showcased the deepening connections between New Zealand and India.
Hon. Minister of State for External Affairs and for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Minister in his speech noted the deepening bilateral relations between India and New Zealand, especially with the Indian President’s visit to New Zealand, the New Zealand Prime Minister’s visit to India, and the Minister’s own visit to New Zealand recently.
Traditional performance by Māori cultural group Ngāti Koraha,
The event brought together traditional performances by the Māori cultural group Ngāti Koraha, besides the specially curated collaborative fashion showcase.
A high-powered jury comprising top Indian designers Namrata Joshipura and Nikhil Mehra (of the Shantnu & Nikhil label), and fashion editors and tastemakers Nandini Bhalla (Editor-in-Chief of The Word) and Vijendra Bhardwaj (Fashion Editor, Esquire) picked the winning team of Ella Rhodes from Auckland University of Technology and Stuti Gupta from Pearl Academy. The runners-up were Samsara Jasper from Whitecliffe College and Vanya Aggarwal from NIFT.
H.E. Patrick Rata, New Zealand High Commissioner, said, “This is a special occasion for us as we mark Matariki, the Māori New Year, here in India. The values of Matariki — connection, reflection and renewal — resonate deeply across cultures. The evening celebrates the shared creativity and enduring bonds between our peoples. We are honoured to bring to India a window into New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture through this unique partnership.”
The High Commissioner also took a moment to thank everyone who made the evening possible — the participating designers, the jury, the mentors and academic partners, some of whom travelled all the way from New Zealand, and FDCI for their support. He emphasized that the aim of the evening was to celebrate the special connection between New Zealand and India, and that it was only through the efforts of every individual involved that this vision came to life so beautifully.
