35 Years of Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi: Nominations Open Now

Posted: Friday May 07, 2021

Creative New Zealand is proud to recognise 35 years of Ngā Taonga Toi o Te Waka Toi, the Te Waka Toi Awards in 2021 and are calling for nominations recognising artistic excellence, achievement and contribution of Māori artists working in customary and contemporary Māori arts.

Three of the award categories are open for public nominations:

• Ngā Manu Pīrere award (an emerging artist showing promise and potential in their chosen artform)
• Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga - Making a Difference award (recognises leadership and outstanding contribution to the development of new directions in Māori art)
• Toi Iho Pūmanawa award (lived experience of disability and is making a national or international arts contribution)

"Kua toru ngahuru mā rima ngā tau te iwi Māori e whakanui ana i ngā ringa toi Māori tonu ā ahakoa kua huri ētahi kanohi ki te pō ko rātou tēnei kaupapa i timata arā Ko Tā Kingi Ihaka, Ko Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Ko Kumeroa Ngoingoi Pewhairangi me ngā taniwha hikuroa o te ao toi kua tipu, kua rea, kua matomato ai ngā hua toi hei taonga toi mō te ao" Haniko Te Kurapa Senior Ngā Toi Māori Advisor said today.

"Ko Ngā Taonga Toi o Te Waka Toi he hau ora he hau toi e hiki ai i ngā parirau o ngā manu pīrere kia rere ki ngā taumata e wawatatia ana e rātou. Tāku ki ngā whānau o ngā manu pīrere, o ngā ringa raupā hoki o te ao toi Māori, tautokona tō tangata, tō mokopuna, tō whanaunga - urua ta rātou ingoa ki te pōtae nei kia wānangahia, kia kōrerohia e ngā tohunga toi Māori, wai ka mōhio wai ka tohu ka whakaihu rātou." Arts Practice Director Māori, Kereama Te Ua today encouraged the Māori arts sector to recognise the work of their colleagues or students and nominate them for the Te Waka Toi Awards. "The purpose of the awards is to recognise excellence, while we don't choose to talk of our sweetness, we can and should uplift our colleagues, our whānau, our mentors who demonstrate absolute prestige in ngā toi Māori."

Full details and nomination forms are available on the website Nominations close Monday 21 June, 1pm.

https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/nominations-for-te-waka-toi-awards-2021-open-now