For Adrienne Spratt creativity has always been a thread running through her life. Growing up on the beautiful Kapiti Coast, she was surrounded by stories of resilience, migration, and craftsmanship. Her whakapapa is a rich tapestry of Hungarian, Czech, Scottish, and Irish heritage. Her grandparents arrived in Aotearoa from distant shores, bringing with them traditions, experiences, and a determination to create new lives. One grandfather escaped the turmoil facing Jewish families in Europe during the Second World War, while another left the Isle of Skye as a young teenager and eventually found his way to New Zealand.

As the eldest of three siblings and the only granddaughter on her mother's side, Adrienne grew up closely connected to her family. Creativity was everywhere. Her mother and grandmother taught her to knit and crochet, while her grandfather spent countless hours crafting jewellery, working with stone and wood, and creating intricate marquetry (woodwork) artworks. Although she explored many different jobs after leaving school, including office work and interior decorating, the desire to create never left her.

Her journey into raranga was not straightforward. Adrienne first tried weaving more than forty years ago but found it difficult and put it aside. Years later, after having children, she returned to it. This time, everything clicked. The techniques, patterns, and possibilities began to reveal themselves, and weaving became both a passion and a calling.

That passion eventually led her to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, where she began teaching weaving programmes and later degree-level courses. Inspired by a commitment to preserve and share knowledge, she completed a degree under the guidance of Kahu Te Kanawa at the Te Kuiti campus before undertaking a Master's degree in Māori Visual Art at Massey University. Her master's research explored weaving techniques and how multiple approaches could be integrated within a single work.

Yet another dream remained. For years, Adrienne had been fascinated by patterns, numbers, and cultural symbols. She envisioned creating a resource that would explore these connections and preserve them for future generations. That vision became the foundation of her PhD research and once submitted, will also become a book that serves as a taonga for her mokopuna, whānau, and many others.

Over four years of study, Adrienne investigated patterns of cultural identity across her whakapapa, studying and recreating designs from her Scottish, Irish, Hungarian, and Czech heritage. Through Māori weaving methodologies, she wove these ancestral patterns together, creating new connections between the cultures that shape her identity. The result is not only a doctoral thesis but also a practical resource that will support future weavers and researchers.

For Adrienne, Rangahau is not about reaching a destination. It is a lifelong journey of discovery. She believes anyone can pursue research if they are passionate about their kaupapa. Her greatest hope is that her work inspires her children, mokopuna, and others to follow their curiosity and pursue their dreams.

As Adrienne often reflects, learning never stops. Like weaving itself, each new strand strengthens the whole, creating something meaningful that can be passed on to future generations.