She taught weaving to renowned weavers such as Maureen Lander[12] and also passed on her expertise on traditional methods of preparing the harakeke and earthen dyes.
In 1987 Te Kanawa travelled to the Museum of Brisbane in Australia to demonstrate and talk on the art of Māori weaving.
[16] In 1988 she and Emily Schuster travelled to museums in Britain and the United States to study taonga and obtain information about past weaving techniques.
However a collection of 12 of her kahu huruhuru (woven muka cloaks, feathered on one side), made for her children, is held in trust at the Waikato Museum in Hamilton.
[18] In 1989 Te Kanawa and her mother were commissioned to make a cloak to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the University of Waikato.
[19] In 2006 she completed a commissioned korowai made of kiwi feathers for King Tuheitia as a statement of support for the Kingitanga.