Toi Māori Projects
Toi Māori Aotearoa has organised and been involved in a number events around New Zealand and internationally that have promoted Māori arts – both in developing it and presenting it to audiences both in New Zealand and abroad. We strive to nurture and present the best of Māori art and culture to audiences everywhere.
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Atamira - The Lifeforce of Māori Contemporary Dance
Auckland, NZ, 2003
Māori Art Meets America
San Francisco, USA, 2005
Eternal Thread Exhibition
Seatle, USA, 2006
Waka Taua – America's Cup
Valencia, Italy, 2007
Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Volkenkunde Museum, Leiden, Netherlands 2011
Te Hono ki Aotearoa Film Documentary
2012
Queen's Diamond Jubilee
London, UK 2012
Waka Taua at the Commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele – Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Passchendaele, Begium 2017
Paimarire Fibre Arts-Studio
Evergreen State University, Olympia, Washington, USA 2014-2018
Māori Markings Tā Moko exhibition
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 22-24 March 2019
Pao Pao Pao
Nationwide, NZ, 2005-present
Auckland, NZ, 2003
Māori Art Meets America
San Francisco, USA, 2005
Eternal Thread Exhibition
Seatle, USA, 2006
Waka Taua – America's Cup
Valencia, Italy, 2007
Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Volkenkunde Museum, Leiden, Netherlands 2011
Te Hono ki Aotearoa Film Documentary
2012
Queen's Diamond Jubilee
London, UK 2012
Waka Taua at the Commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele – Te Hono ki Aotearoa
Passchendaele, Begium 2017
Paimarire Fibre Arts-Studio
Evergreen State University, Olympia, Washington, USA 2014-2018
Māori Markings Tā Moko exhibition
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 22-24 March 2019
Pao Pao Pao
Nationwide, NZ, 2005-present
TE HONO KI AOTEAROA - The Link to New Zealand

The ceremonial waka taua Te Hono ki Aotearoa (The Link to New Zealand) was carved in 2010 and is based in the Netherlands at Volkenkunde Museum in Leiden. This is a 100 year partnership between the Museum and Toi Māori. Click this link for the Te Hono ki Aotearoa Documentary.
This waka is used a vehicle for promoting contemporary Māori arts on the world stage in Europe. Since handing over the waka to the Dutch in an elaborate ceremony on the picturesque Dutch canals during October 2010 in Leiden, it has been used in the following events;
Toi Māori have also used other ceremonial waka taua as an iconic feature to promote Māori arts globally;
Since 2010 Dutch rowers who have been trained as kaihoe for Te Hono ki Aoteaora have been hosted at the annual national waka pageant at Waitangi.
This waka is used a vehicle for promoting contemporary Māori arts on the world stage in Europe. Since handing over the waka to the Dutch in an elaborate ceremony on the picturesque Dutch canals during October 2010 in Leiden, it has been used in the following events;
- City of London Festival 2011 on the River Thames where New Zealand was the ‘Feature Country’ and was used to open the festival.
- Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations 2012 where the waka was the ‘Official Representative’ of New Zealand. The waka was one of 1000 vessels on the River Thames; 1.2 million people lined the shores to witness the occasion; 3.2 billion people around the world watched the televised event.
- Commemoration of the 100th centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele; waka used at Menin Gate ramparts ceremony, Belgium, October 2017.
Toi Māori have also used other ceremonial waka taua as an iconic feature to promote Māori arts globally;
- Golden Gate Bridge during ‘Māori Art Meets America’ in San Francisco 2005.
- The America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain in 2007.
Since 2010 Dutch rowers who have been trained as kaihoe for Te Hono ki Aoteaora have been hosted at the annual national waka pageant at Waitangi.
The Eternal Thread and Māori Meets America
San Francisco, USA 2005-2006 ‘Māori Art Meets America’ was held in conjunction with The Eternal Thread weaving exhibition. The impact of this pan-art form delivery is evidenced in the following proclamation from the Mayor of San Francisco on behalf of the City and Council of San Francisco.
‘The City and County of San Francisco is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the spirit of cultural understanding, today we celebrate Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread ... which reflects the rich heritage and belief system of the Māori people and shows how Māori ‘follow an ancestral thread that leads into a world of creativity that has no end’ ... in celebration of Toi Māori: the Eternal Thread and its commitment to the preservation of culture and tradition do hereby proclaim August 4, 2005 as Toi Māori: The Eternal Thread Day in San Francisco.’ |
Commemoration of the Battle of Passchendaele
Passchendaele, Begium 2017
Passchendaele, Begium 2017
As part of the commemorations marking the centenary of New Zealand's involvement in the Battle of Passchendaele, Toi Māori in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) will feature the waka Te Hono ki Aotearoa, based in Leiden, Netherlands to take part in a commemoration ceremony alongside the Māori Cultural Group of New Zealand Defense Force and New Zealand Youth Ambassadors at the Menin Gate in leper on Wednesday 11 October at 7pm.
8 kaihoe (paddlers) with a wide range of skills and experience have been selected from New Zealand whilst 6 Dutch from the Waka group of Njord Royal Rowing Club in Leiden, Netherlands will complete the 14 strong group of kaihoe.
8 kaihoe (paddlers) with a wide range of skills and experience have been selected from New Zealand whilst 6 Dutch from the Waka group of Njord Royal Rowing Club in Leiden, Netherlands will complete the 14 strong group of kaihoe.
Paimarire Fibre Arts-Studio
Evergreen State University, Olympia, Washington, USA 2014-2018 The Longhouse is an indigneous studies campus based within Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington, USA. Evergreen is a highly regarded Liberal College. As its indigneous arts network grew across USA, Canada and the Pacific, the Longhouse governors agreed that their next studio, the fibre studio would be themed as Māori. Tohunga Whakairo Lyonel Grant and Tohunga Raranga Whatu Christina Hurihia Wirihana were selected to contribute the Māori art elements. Christina is Māoridom’s longest serving relationship-keeper with the Longhouse and held the first Māori artists residency at the Longhouse in 2006. Her mother Matekino Lawless is a key partner in that work.
In 2014 Lyonel Grant was the Creative New Zealand Toi Sqwigwialtxw Resident at The Longhouse and worked alongside Native American Architect John-Paul Jones to conceptualise and design the building. Over four years Lyonel returned to Evergreen to work alongside local Salish and other First Nation carvers. In March 2018 Toi Māori sent Lyonel a final time to complete the project. Toi Māori also freighted the completed weaving panels made by the Waiariki weavers supporting Christina. |
In partnership with Creative New Zealand, Toi Māori Aotearoa delivers the Māori Art Internship Programme (MAI). Since 2014 Toi Māori Aotearoa has cared for the professional development of 18 rangatahi trained in various art and culture organisations.