Niyah Garisau has become the first New Zealander to achieve an advanced international qualification in textile colouration.
Bremworth Dyehouse technician Niyah Garisau has been awarded the Textile Colouration Certificate from the UK-based Society of Dyers and Colourists, becoming the first New Zealander to achieve an advanced international qualification in textile colouration.
Garisau, who is of Maori and Samoan heritage, previously gained the Foundation Textile Colouration Certificate in 2022. Her recent accolade has strengthened the local manufacturer’s technical edge in the global carpet market.
The two-year programme is regarded as one of the world’s most rigorous professional standards for colourists, training candidates in the chemistry, application, and measurement of colour across different fibres.
Garisau completed the programme while working full-time, and her journey was further complicated by weekly commutes between Napier and Christchurch and delays caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, but she persevered to complete the qualification in 2025.
“When I first stepped into the dyehouse, I was fascinated by what was happening with colour and wanted to learn more. The late-night lectures with the UK tutors, often running from 10 pm to midnight before starting work the next day, were the hardest part, but it’s been worth it,” she said.
This qualification has equipped her to troubleshoot colour processes, ensure consistency across large carpet runs, and apply the latest international best practice in sustainable dye techniques.
For the past seven years, Garisau has worked at Bremworth Dyehouse, a New Zealand producer that specialises in high-quality wool carpets. She said this qualification has given her the confidence to step into leadership roles in the future and to help mentor new trainees coming through.
“When I left school, I had one year at university, but I didn’t feel like it was for me. I started out at an entry-level position in the factory at Bremworth, but I became fascinated with what I saw happening in the dye room. I decided that this was going to be the career direction I wanted to head in. That curiosity pushed me to take every opportunity to learn and grow, even when the path wasn’t obvious,” she said.
She added that she is incredibly proud to be on this journey, especially as a Maori and Pasifika woman. She hoped to inspire others to take up more training opportunities. She said that people often don’t see what is available until they start to look a little closer.
Bremworth’s Dyehouse Manager, Grant Townend, said the achievement is a milestone not just for Garisau but for the wider New Zealand textile sector, where specialist training pathways have largely disappeared.
“It’s actually vital for our business to have someone with this level of qualification. There’s nothing comparable available in New Zealand anymore, and the expertise Niyah now brings in colour matching, dye application, and fibre knowledge gives us both risk mitigation and a real edge against competitors,” he said.
Townend added that training included exposure to cutting-edge developments in low-impact dye chemistry, directly supporting Bremworth’s sustainability goals. He said Garisau’s success also positioned Bremworth to nurture future talent. While four Bremworth staff completed the Foundation Textile Colouration Certificate in 2022, Garisau went on to advance to the Textile Colouration Certificate, a reflection of both her technical ability and commitment.
“Colour is subjective, but the science behind achieving and keeping it consistent is critical. Getting it wrong at scale is costly. Having someone formally qualified at this level means Bremworth can deliver to the highest international standards while continuing to innovate in natural fibre carpets.”
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