Role
Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, is responsible for developing Māori arts and artists. It invests contestable funding, develops initiatives and delivers tailored programmes. Te Waka Toi also funds Toi Maori Aotearoa on a three-year basis and Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre on an annual basis. With the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, it contributes to the annual funding of Taki Rua Productions. Go to the Funding section for more information on funding through Te Waka Toi.
Members
Members are appointed by the Minister Arts, Culture and Heritage for a term of up to three years. Anyone can nominate a person to be considered for appointment to the board.
Darrin Haimona, Chair, of Waharoa (Tainui) is Chief Executive Officer of Te Hauora O Ngati Haua Trust. He has set up and run a local iwi arts management plan, and has worked on community housing and non-violence networks. He has strong links with Maori communities in Waikato.
Kura Te Waru Rewiri (Te Rarawa) is a senior visual artist based in Northland with a long career as an artist and arts educator. She teaches at Northland Polytechnic and previously taught in the Maori Visual Arts department at Massey University, Ilam School of Fine Arts, and at Auckland University.
John Huria (Ngai Tahu) is a Wellington-based literature specialist. He is a director of Ahi Text Solutions, which provides editing and research services with a focus on Maori publishing. He contributed to the award-winning publication on the painter Shane Cotton and recently updated the definitive encyclopedia Maori Life and Custom.
Te Kahautu Maxwell (Te Whakatohea, Ngai Tai, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngati Awa, Ngati Porou, Tuhoe, Ngati Maniapoto) is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Maori and Pacific Development at the University of Waikato. He is an expert in tikanga Maori and has a strong background in the performing arts, as a composer of haka and moteatea. He is currently a rohe delegate for Te Matatini.
Marina Sciascia (Ngati Kahungunu) has represented Ngati Kahungunu nationally and internationally in kapa haka and is a founding member of the Tamateaarikinui team, which has participated in the Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival for 30 years. She also co-ordinated the New Zealand Festival of Arts Maori programme for four years. She has served on a number of boards, including Te Angiangi Marine Reserve and the Department of Conservation, and is a Ngati Kere Rohe trustee.
Nathan Hoturoa Gray (Ngai Tahu, Rangitaane, Waikato [whangai]) served as a lawyer and foreign policy advisor in Alaska and Saipan before becoming a freelance journalist covering international feature stories for National Geographic, TNT UK, Hollywood's P3 Update and New Zealand's Tu Mai Magazine. His first book: First Pass Under Heaven - One Man's 4000km Trek along the Great Wall of China was a New Zealand best-seller, sold widely by Penguin Global throughout Australia, China, USA and the UK where he conducted international addresses and promotions. He also released a National Geographic educational package throughout USA and New Zealand schools and hopes to help others embark upon similar journeys.
Matanuku Mahuika (Ngati Porou and Ngati Raukawa) is a partner in Kahui Legal. He specialises in advising Māori trust boards and Māori organisations in structural, business development. His work is in the area of intellectual property, in particular in relation to the recognition given to Māori cultural and spiritual beliefs.