Grow and Prosper Māori Arts in Waikato
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SUMMARY REPORT GROW AND PROSPER MĀORI ARTS IN WAIKATO Supported by He Mihi Toi Tangata Toi Whenua Toi Māori Pou hihiri Pou rarama Te pou herenga tangata Te pou herenga whenua Te pou ka toko Te pou ka hiki Te pou ka eke tū tārewa ki ngā rangi tāwhaowhao Ūtaina atu ngā kōrero nei Mā te pūreirei tōngakengake ki te whakahaumanu i te pou o taku whare kōrero Tōtoro te pūhina o te ata hāpara o te ata kura, o te ata tū Ki ngā taiwhenua ki ngā papa kāinga ki te one e karapinepine tonu i a tātou Ko te whakahu tēnei a tari Toi Waikato ki a koutou i poipoia tēnei kaupapa i o koutou takiwā Ū te pou, māia te pou Hui te mārama, hui te ora Hui ē, Tāiki e! 1 Toi Waikato — Kia Hua, Kia Puāwai provides an insight into opportunities for Māori artists within Waikato. INTRODUCTION The purpose of the mahi was to identify This rangahau allowed a journey into how toi Māori can be best supported for understanding the aspirations of toi artists future growth. The process has been living in Waikato, forming a clear picture a discussion with Waikato artists to from the aspirations of the sector understand: and defining opportunities and initiatives that will support these ambitions. “ How can Māori arts and artists across the Waikato be best By showing what exists and what could be, supported to help traditional this document becomes a powerful tool for knowledge thrive and advocating for Māori arts. Organisations contemporary practice grow?” such as iwi, Councils, funders and education providers can use this information to develop future plans to support toi Māori. HOW THE RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED Information was gathered through hui, The toi artists covered the areas of: kanohi ki te kanohi, with rōpu and • Raranga (weaving) individuals from a wide range of • Whakairo (carving) experience, ages and art forms. Research • Contemporary music took place between January and June • Dance/Hip Hop 2017. The goal was to gather whakaaro • Kapa Haka with full representation across the region. • Painting The approach was to whakarongorongo • Photography artists’ experiences, challenges and • Uku (ceramics) aspirations in free flowing kōrero. Over • Sculpture 100 toi Māori artists contributed to hui • Tukutuku (woven panels) representing the areas of: • Korowai (cloak) Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, Whatawhata, • Poetry/Writing Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Karapiro, • Mixed Media Putaruru, Ōtorohanga, Waihi, Te Kuiti, • Tā Moko (traditional tattoo) Waitomo, Hangatiki, Raglan/Whaingaroa, • Performing Arts Te Awamutu, Te Aroha, Paeroa. Artists • Graphic Design represented Tainui waka: Tainui, Maniapoto, Hauraki, Raukawa and Ngāti Hauā and included artists from other iwi Kaupapa Te around Aotearoa who now live and practice in Waikato. 2 TOI MĀORI STRENGTHS IN WAIKATO • The Waikato region is acknowledged • Te Wānanga O Aotearoa was founded as a hub of Māoridom with particular in Te Awamutu and is the largest Māori strengths in Māori creative expression learning institute in Aotearoa • It stands on a rich history embedded • Te Wānanga O Aotearoa has one of in the Kīngitanga movement and the largest contemporary Māori arts significance of Turangawaewae Marae collection in Aotearoa • Iwi and hapū have a strong desire • Waikato tertiary institutes foster practice to maintain and preserve their own of emerging and established artists with individual culture and heritage arts Te Wānanga O Aotearoa, WINTEC, The practices and ensure that learning Waikato University and Waikato Tainui reflects regional distinctions College for Research and Development • Waikato’s Māori population ranks • Key public sculptures in Hamilton second in size out of the 16 regions by established Māori artists such as in Aotearoa Michael Parekowhai and Fred Graham • 6% of all people in the Waikato region • The University of Waikato is a leading can hold a conversation in Te Reo Māori, institution for their Māori and Indigenous higher than the national average of 4% studies and has one of Aotearoa’s vast taonga puoro collection • The Waikato region has numerous experts in the areas of rāranga, whakairo, hoe • Te Kotahi Research Institute (The waka and navigation, taonga puoro in University of Waikato) has undertaken addition to more urban art forms such significant research such as Ngā Hua o as urban dance, music and spoken word Tāne Rore, scoping the contribution Kapa Haka makes to New Zealand society • Kapa haka is one of the most popular forms of Māori arts in the Waikato TOI MĀORI CHALLENGES IN WAIKATO • Low profile and awareness of Māori arts • Not enough employed roles to properly activity amongst general population support the toi sector • Narrow audience engagement • Few Māori skilled conservators to care for taonga in museum settings • Lack of visibility of Māori art in public art • A number of museums are seen to have • Tendancy towards tokenistic inclusion limited space or skill to display Māori of Māori arts art and craft • Limited suitable venues for performance • Lack of understanding in non-Māori (limited accessibility driving preference venues and organisations around for Māori to own or control their own appropriate Māori practice and spaces) engagement and value of Māori • Lack of carving studios or places where arts activity carving can be taught • Deficit of business development • Many activities are undertaken on Marae skills in Māori artists and groups due to the lack of other spaces or access • Difficulty for artists to access materials to them, resulting in isolated audiences such as natural resources restricted • Limited places in which to make, learn by DOC or government e.g feathers, about, showcase and share toi Māori native woods • Low level funding support for Māori art activities i.e. kapa haka at local, regional and national levels as well as other art forms 3 Toi artists in the Waikato want to feel and be connected to others in their field and location. Image: Te Wānanga O Aotearoa Wānanga Image: Te WHAT DO TOI ARTISTS WANT? Waikato is geographically expansive and artists want opportunities that are local and relevant to them and their communities. They want dedicated spaces where they can gather and create their mahi. They want to collaborate with others, learn alongside others and grow connections to expand their networks. They want to refine their technique, skills and knowledge and to be self-sustaining through their arts practices. WHY? HOW? Toi is integral and important to Māori. Following the 6 Key Principles, there is The aspirations for toi are based on this a series of opportunities and initiatives premise and are outlined in the 6 Key identified by the sector. Each project or Principals. initiative relates to or supports a key principle. Recognising the interconnectedness between Key Principles and Opportunities and Initiatives is key to successfully Summary supporting toi Māori to thrive in Waikato. 4 TOI IS INTEGRAL TO MĀORI WELLBEING Toi envelops all aspects of Māori living. Knowledge from tīpuna is held within the taonga, patterns, reo, mōteatea, waiata, historical stories and whakapapa. It is a direct connection to the mātauranga of our tīpuna, which is a source of strength for Māori. “ Māori art is not a commodity. It's a subconscious cultural expression of connection with taonga and tīpuna.” The deep knowledge possessed within toi tuku iho, allows a person to learn about who they are and where they come from. It impacts all aspects of their lives, which radiates to the people they are connected to, their whānau and beyond. “There needs to be a broader Toi Māori Toi understanding of what toi Māori is. It is not what it is being defined as today. It is not separate from being Māori.” Te Aratiatia Marae at Fairfield College Fairfield Marae at Aratiatia Te — Image: Te Iho Rangi Image: Te 1995 Opened December 5 “What we are trying to do is keep it alive, pass over the beauty of tikanga Māori, sharing the tools, the reo, weaving and strengthening us as we come together as one” Image: Mark Hamilton / Artist: Alex Sands Image: Mark Hamilton / Artist: Alex SUPPORTING TOI SUPPORTS THE PRESERVATION OF MĀTAURANGA “ My kuia inspired me to do the “ Our history of learning is oral. karanga for events like tangi That’s why we are creative because and unveilings” AGE 16 it is innate to us. To us, doing art is Māori knowledge has traditionally been just as important as astronomy or passed on through toi. Whakatauki, science” mōteatea, waiata, stories etched in moko, What is cohesive to learning mātauranga carved in wood and woven in tukutuku. Māori is the concept of learning together, Original expression was through practical kanohi ki te kanohi, and learning on marae hands-on application. Traditionally at the source of stories pertaining to that language was spoken, not written; area and to the people. whakapapa was recalled and chanted and not documented until later. It is in the ‘doing’ that toi can thrive and mātauranga endure. Mātauranga 6 TOI IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY Toi powerfully enables a way to see, hear, It is as important for non-Māori to speak, feel, integrate, acknowledge and engage with as it is for Māori to see. normalise Māori worldview in everyday living. Visibility validates a presence and “ I reckon finding a way to support perspective. A presence that in many and push Māori artists to go hearty places and ways, historically, socially, for the mainstream platforms and politically and culturally has been muted within those platforms use their and unheard. artform as a way of representing Māori in the greater arena” Toi can provide everyday touch points to acknowledge mana whenua and tangata Māori artists’ mahi often pushes deeper whenua perspectives. A visible presence narratives, highlighting important issues is a pathway to understanding. From that may be historical or topical.