Flames of contemporary Maori culture flickered brightly last night as fashion designers, artists and performers ignited the runway of Tiki Ahua at Te Puia in front of a sell-out crowd of 500.

The inaugural Tiki Ahua event, themed Ka Mura: Set Alight inspired by the Maori goddesses of fire, featured 22 designers from Rotorua and beyond, and included streetwear, daywear, adornment, eveningwear and avant-garde.

Kiri Nathan's eveningwear collection celebrated strength, pride and beauty in being Māori and in being a New Zealander.Photo: Graeme Murray/Te Puia.

Traditional Maori arts were also seen in a completely new way, with pounamu and bone carvings on the runway and live ta

moko tattooing exhibited throughout the evening. Top-selling New Zealand artist Che Fu, finished the event on a high, getting the party started at the end of the night.

Te Puia general manager sales and marketing, Kiri Atkinson-Crean says the inaugural event exceeded all expectations for those involved, including the designers, artists, the team behind the scenes, and the guests.

'Rotorua is famous for its traditional Māori arts and crafts – and in fact Te Puia | NZMACI has a mandated responsibility to ensure those traditions are preserved.

'But we also want to support and highlight our contemporary artists and designers, and give them an opportunity to shine. And tonight's Tiki Ahua event has certainly done that.”

Ms Atkinson-Crean says the event was sold out three weeks prior, with a huge mix of people attending from Rotorua and beyond.

'You don't need to be in Auckland or Wellington to be part of a thriving and successful fashion, design and art environment, and Tiki Ahua has clearly demonstrated that Rotorua has what it takes.”

Ms Atkinson-Crean says the five-year vision for Tiki Ahua is to grow the event from a one-night spectacle, to a week-long festival of art, design, dance and culture.

Nerida Johnstone – The raw and eclectic edge of Henare Jewellery, along with Masami clothing, lit up the runway. Photo: Graeme Murray/Te Puia.

Henare Jewellery designer Nerida Johnstone says Tiki Ahua has already reinforced existing business contacts and helped build new ones, as well as provided another level of inspiration.

'I'm so humbled to have presented Henare in front of a packed house, and behind the scenes everyone is so energised. I'm extremely excited and overwhelmed and it's been amazing to have been involved.”

Ranui Samuels from Rise Supply Co believes Tiki Ahua is the beginning of great things.

'Fashion is an essential part of who we are as Maori, and we are now reaching that design into daywear, evening wear and couture and extending further than traditional art and craft.

'[Tiki Ahua] was awesome. You work on these things for a long time and you have an idea of how it's going to go, and the you just run with it and it works. It's a great show and a great vibe.”

The event was seamlessly brought together by artistic director, Turanga Merito.

'It's been an epic journey, it feels like an incredibly large magic puzzle brought together which has been rewarding and emotional.

'It's so special being from Rotorua, not growing up with much, having gone away with an international career for myself and to be back using these skills to inspire, bring love and life, light and joy to our community and to our people – it has been an absolute privilege.”

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says Tiki Ahua could become what the original World of Wearable Arts event was to Nelson.

'This is a proudly Rotorua and Te Arawa event, and it couldn't be held anywhere else but here in Te Whakarewarewa Valley. It has surprised and delighted the audience, it's a bit cheeky and very slick and I don't think it was what anyone was expecting. It's just incredible.”

Auckland-based pianist, guitarist and singer/songwriter, Seth Haapu provided the pre-show entertainment, followed throughout the evening by X-Factor runner up, Whenua Patuwai and hip-hop dance group, Street Candee.

One of the country's most successful recording artists, Che Fu closed the event in a grand finale.

The concept behind Tiki Ahua – Ka Mura: Set Alight

The ancient concepts found within the words ‘Tiki' and ‘Āhua' sit at the heart of this kaupapa and are driven by an aspirational desire to be more, do more and become more reflective of the creative process.

The theme, Ka Mura | Set Alight, is inspired by the history of the subterranean goddesses of fire, Te Pupu and Te Hoata, who created the geothermal imprint from the east coast of the North Island to the mountains of the Central Plateau.

Ka describes the act of setting alight, while mura is a flame. Together, they describe the fostering of life and creation, bringing something into existence.

Tiki AAhua also draws inspiration from
Te Arawa's unique history and environment 
and is intrinsically rooted in values and traditions around manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whanaungatanga (kinship).