Te Iringa a Tūpoto

Opening 11am Saturday 14th June

Open 14th June to 27th July 2025

We welcome Ngai Tupoto artists to the gallery for Matariki.

This exhibition is a celebration of toi Māori, toi Ngāi Tūpoto and Ngāti Here, the hapū whose traditional kāinga are Motukaraka and Te Huahua, extending across Hokianga Awa to Rāwene. Whakapapa is central to this exhibition, an acknowledgement of mana whenua, part of the rich whāriki of Hokianga hapū. The artists in this exhibition are all descendants of the tupuna (ancestor) Tūpoto.

The artists are Ana Iti, Nikau Hindin, Ernest Harris, Wendy Henwood, Fiona Gates

Henare Rawiri, Arohanui Harris, Reva Mendes, Tohu Harris, Anaru Ruka, Dawn Harris, Italy Thompson and Nikau Campbell. Some of the artists were born in Hokianga, others beyond the rohe, but they are all related through whānau. Their artworks reflect who they are and their lives’ journeys. Some have turned to toi Māori later in life, for others it has been their life’s work.

The exhibition is held at Matariki, our newest holiday and oldest celebration. The nine stars that make up the Matariki constellation remind us of both earthly and spiritual dimensions. In this exhibition the artists are joined together by whakapapa to those who have gone before; the star Pōhutukawa guides our memories back to them. Hiwaiterangi allows the artists to explore their dreams through their mahi toi, their art, propelling them forwards.