The Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival 2002
Ta Moko artists of Te Uhi feature in the Auahi Kore Arts Village
It took about 18 months and lots of phone calls, e-mails, conference calls, and meetings to pull, design, and produce. The outcome was amazing and exceeded expectations from the artists and the Festival hosts.
Manu Neho of Rotorua led an energetic team of workers to present the greatest representation of this art ever seen in modern times. The exhibiting artists were Julie Kipa, Lorna Dixon, Toi Hadfield, Mark Kopua, Riki Manual, Rangi Kipa and Te Rangi Kaihoro.
Students of Ta Moko at Toihoukura in Gisborne were present to assist all the key artists. In addition artists from throughout the country came in to display their work within the Arts village.
Two artists from Hawaii Keone Nunes and Vaughn Victor who were to be part of the Porirua Toi Maori Festival in March arrived in time to participate in the event. As part of the feature component of the Auahi Kore Arts village complex at the festival the event promoted quality art in quality environment. For the majority of visitors the opportunity to see such an array of the most talented practitioners of the art was memorable.
The project was assisted by a number of sponsors and partners including; Korowai aroha, Auahi kore, Horrizon Pacific Homes, ATMPAS and Ngati Whatua.
A CD Rom of this event is being developed.
Also within the Arts Village was an exhibition of contemporary artists curated by Natasha Keating entitled "The Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Invitation Exhibition.' This array of beautiful art was very popular with the many visitors to the venue.
Also within the Arts Village were Riki Moeau, Margaret Te Hiko, Ruben Wharawhara and Matiere Ropiha of Creative New Zealand promoting the new Toi Iho Maori Made Mark and Arthur Baysting and Petrina Togi of APRA (Australasian Performing Rights Association) promoting registration of composers.