Toi Māori Aotearoa

24/06/2026

15/06/2026

Last Friday evening, we celebrated the opening of Marara Darlington-Paku’s exhibition, HE RONGOĀ TE TOI🩵

It was a beautiful intimate gathering of whānau and the night was filled with waiata, laughter, aroha and of course yummy kai!

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who came to support Marara and the beautiful mahi toi she is exhibiting.

HE RONGOĀ TE TOI is open now in the Toi Māori Gallery until 28 August 2026. This is an exhibition you do not want to miss!

📍Toi Māori Gallery
Level 4 Change House
150 Featherston Street
Wellington CBD
⏰ Gallery Hours: 10am-4pm, Mon- Fri

08/06/2026

HE RONGOĀ TE TOI opens Monday 15 June 📍 Toi Māori Gallery

Marara Darlington-Paku (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa) is a talented ringatoi based in Taupō. Her exhibition, He rongoā te toi reflects her belief in creative practice as a form of healing- a pathway to identity and wellbeing.

Save the dates e te whānau-you definitely do not want to miss this exhibition! 💙

📅 Mon 15 June- Fri 28 August 2026
📍 Toi Māori Gallery
Level 4 Change House
150 Featherston Street
Wellington CBD
⏰ Gallery Open Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm
📸 Marara Darlington-Paku, 'Te Ngakau o Hiwa-I-Te-Rangi'.

02/06/2026

He maimai aroha ki a koe e Tā Hirini Moko Mead, te Hēmana tuatahi o Toi Māori Aotearoa i te tau 1996. Nāhau i whakatū i te whare whakairo toi, whakairo kōrero o Toi Māori i te taha o rātau Te Aumāngea, te hunga pōkaikura kua huri ki tua o ngā karahiwi o te motu whānui. A koe i whakatō i ngā pou turu o ngā ringa toi Māori kia eke ai rātau ki te toi o ngā rangi. I tuhia e koe ngā kōrero hei here i te aka matua mai i te rangi ki te whenua. Te toka tū moana o te ao tūroa e kore e taea te nekeneke.

Whakatere atu rā koe ki tō Hawaiki, ki te taiahiahi. Tangi ana te ngākau mōhau kua riro tītapu nei me ō mātauranga māori i p**a ki te whaiao, ki te ao mārama, hei oranga mō mātau me ngā reanga whakaheke. Waiho ake mātau te hunga ora ki konei, whai ai i te taiawatea.

Moe mai rā e Koro i roto i te whare pongarau o Hine Te-iwa-iwa.

Aroha tino nui ki a koe me tō whānau kua mahue pani iho nei.

Nā mātau ngā ringa toi o Toi Māori.

29/05/2026

To end , we want to uplift a key figure that has massively contributed to Toi Māori Aotearoa: Tama Waipara.

Although retiring from the Pūatatangi committee in 2017, Tama still supports and contributes to the rangatahi development initiatives carried out by Pūatatangi, under the umbrella of Toi Māori Aotearoa. His influence and contributions to the development of Māori music and rangatahi musicians are still acknowledged today, as well as his influence on the committee and in the Māori music industry.

TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA🔈🎵

Image 1 credit: Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival website
Image 2 credit: Waiata Māori Awards website
Bio credit: Toi Māori Aotearoa website

28/05/2026

Widely regarded as a national treasure, Maisey Rika is another musician we want to spotlight for 🔈

Maisey Rika has been actively involved in the activities of Toi Māori Aotearoa and Pūatatangi. Some key examples include travelling to Leiden, the Netherlands in 2010 alongside musicians JJ Rika and Tama Waipara. The purpose of the visit was to celebrate and strengthen the connection between Aotearoa and the Netherlands in regards to Kaupapa Waka. In 2011, she performed at the Toi Māori Market and she has also performed many times at Pao Pao Pao which was a kaupapa focused on showcasing the skills and talents of Māori singers. Additionally, Maisey travelled to Guam in 2016 alongside the TMA whānau to be representatives of Aotearoa for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FESTPAC).

What’s your favourite Maisey Rika waiata?🤔

TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA🔈🎵

Image credit: The Arts Foundation
Bio credit: The Arts Foundation Website

27/05/2026

Today we want to celebrate masterful composer and musician Horomona Horo for 🔈

Horomono has been a committee member of Pūatatangi since 2018 and has played a significant role in the activities of this committee for over two decades. In 2001, he participated in Pao Pao Pao which was a project organized by Hirini Melbourne as a gathering for Māori artists and performers to showcase their talent. Horomona also performed his taonga pūoro at the Māori Art Market in 2011.

Following the passing of Mere Tuiloma-Taylor in 2023, he has been serving as Interim Chair alongside Toni Huata and continued in that role after Toni’s passing in 2025.

TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA🔈🎵

Image credit: SOUNZ website
Bio credit: Haumanu Collective website

26/05/2026

For this , we want to highlight the musical artists and composers that have made a valuable contribution to Pūatatangi- Toi Māori Aotearoa Committee for Māori Music🎶

We also want to celebrate the massive impact they have had on Māori music both nationally and internationally. Māori ki te ao!🌏

First up we have the prolific Māori composer Hirini Melbourne (1949-2003) and one of Aotearoa NZ’s most glamorous performers of the stage Toni Huata (1969-2025)🕊️

Stay tuned for this week as we spotlight more influential Māori musicians that are past and current members of Pūatatangi.

Image 1 credit: Toi Māori Archives
Image 2 credit: RNZ
Image 3 credit: Toi Māori Archives

•Hirini Melbourne bio credit: Toi Māori Aotearoa website
•Toni Huata bio credit: SOUNZ website