Stars shine at inaugural Tauranga Moana awards

Jack Thatcher, centre, with his award on the night. Photos: Salina Galvan Photography.

Master navigator Jack Thatcher, musician Stan Walker and film maker Chelsea Winstanley, are among those announced as winners of inaugural Tauranga Moana awards.

Aligning with the country's first national Matariki holiday, 12 Māori creatives have been honoured at the inaugural Ngā Tohu Toi Mo Ngā Uri Iwi o Te Rohe o Tauranga Moana Awards.

With work spanning across disciplines as diverse as art education, leadership in visual arts, music and arts research, each received awards gifted with names associated with the region.

'Each award winner has led the way in sharing our pūrākau (stories) through transformational art experiences,” says Paama-Pengelly, Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust chairperson.

'They have made a significant contribution to our people, shaping our regional identity and taking this beyond our boundaries.”

The gala evening was hosted at the Waikato University, Tauranga Campus, providing an elegant and fitting artistic backdrop for the night.

Award winners and their representatives were joined by peers and whānau at the celebrations.

'With the calibre and commitments of our recipients we were honoured to have Jack Thatcher, Linda Munn, Shona Tawhiao, Graeme Hoete, Chelsea Winstanley and Nigel Borell with us for the night.”

The prizes were awarded by local sponsors, accompanied by special 3-D rendered trophies in the form of a star, designed by Julie Paama-Pengelly for the inaugural event.

Winners

-Jack Thatcher (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkenga Puke Tirotiro Whetū o Tauranga Moana (Icon award: Customary knowledge systems) sponsored by Tauranga City Council.

-Clive Fugill (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui, Ngāti Raukawa), Te Kete Aronui o Tauranga Moana (Icon award: Art education) sponsored by Tauranga City Council.

-Linda Munn (Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngā Potiki, Te Ātiawa, Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu), Ngā Puna Waihanga Mimiti Kore o Tauranga Moana (Icon award: Enduring artistic contribution) sponsored by Tauranga City Council.

-Stan Walker (Ngāi Te Rangi, Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Te Auahatanga o te wā ki Tauranga Moana, (Creative of the year), sponsored by Stuff.

-Shona Tawhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi, Whakatōhea, Te Whanau Āpanui), Arataki Tauranga Moana ki te Ao, (Leadership international), sponsored by Eqalis.

-Ria Hall (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga), Arataki Toi Ataata o Tauranga Moana, (Leadership music), sponsored by Art Body Studio.

-Graeme Hoete (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Awa) , Arataki Toi Ataata o Tauranga Moana (Leadership visual arts), sponsored by Tauranga Boys' College.

-Chelsea Winstanley (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) , Arataki Kiriata o Tauranga Moana
(Leadership film), sponsored by Holland Beckett Law.

-Puawai Cairns (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi), Arataki Rangahau o Tauranga
Moana (Leadership research) sponsored by Supercut Projects.

-Nigel Borell (Pirirākau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea), Mahi Auaha Kauanuanu o Tauranga Moana (Iconic creative project), sponsored by Toi Ohomai.

-Tyrone Ohia (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāi Te Rangi) , Te Uta ki Ngā Ahumahi Auaha mihi mai I
(Contribution to creative industries) sponsored by Creative Bay of Plenty.

-Kahu Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi) , Te Uta ki Ngā Taiohi o Tauranga Moana (Contribution to youth), sponsored by Harris Tate.

Awards Background
Ngā Tohu Toi Mo Ngā Uri Iwi o Te Rohe o Tauranga Moana has been established by Te Tuhi
Mareikura Trust, a collective that aims to champion Māori arts distinctive ongoing contribution to our regional identity.

'Te Tuhi Mareikura was set up in 2015 by a small group of Māori artists who wanted to raise the profile of iwi creatives and advance education opportunities in Māori arts.

'Our goal is to build strong, sustainable and enduring relationships with organisations, groups and individuals within the rohe of Tauranga Moana to ensure the continued advancement and development of ngā toi māori - Māori arts, the wider creative community and art audiences,” says Paama-Pengelly,Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust chairperson.

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1 comment

How wonderful

Posted on 29-06-2022 14:46 | By Avman

Now we have an award that is only avaialable to one race. I never thought I would see the day when this country became so blatantly racist.


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