03 Mar 2021
Creative New Zealand recently hosted 16 Government arts, culture, heritage agencies and arts organisations to share direction, support and build stronger relationships to advance ngā toi Māori (Māori arts) aspirations.
Photo left to right: Trevor Himona (Department of Internal Affairs) Mike Nathan (Deputy Chief Executive Māori, Ministry for Culture & Heritage) Doug Hauraki (Te Kawa Mataaho, Public Service Commission), Betty Hauraki (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori) Paula Carr (Senior Manager, Māori Strategy and Partnerships, CNZ), Dean Whiting (Māori Heritage Manager, Heritage NZ), Tamahou Temara (Acting General Manager, Toi Māori), Drew Naika (Major Events, Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment)
Acting Chair of the Arts Council New Zealand, Caren Rangi emphasised the commitment of the Arts Council to engage Māori arts leadership and stakeholders in setting our strategic direction and Creative New Zealand Manager, Māori Strategy and Partnerships, Paula Carr recognised the critical need for Māori arts advocates to sustain relationships and close working partnerships following the impact of Covid-19 on ngā toi Māori.
Caren Rangi and Paula Carr also took the opportunity to outline the work we’re progressing to become a Tiriti o Waitangi led organisation under the organisational strategy, Te Kaupapa o Tōi Aotearoa (Our Organisational Culture) and the value of the strategy for the arts in Aotearoa.
In turn, representatives from various organisations were able to touch on developments and opportunities related to ngā toi Māori within their work programmes and share information on developing opportunities.
Leadership in the arts is a key focus area for Creative New Zealand in 2021 and the opportunity to meet with kaimahi Māori across the Government and Māori arts sectors puts into practice Creative New Zealand’s commitment to Te Hā o ngā Toi Māori Arts Strategy 2019 – 2024 to partner with Crown organisations and leading cultural agencies to co-create an ecosystem that supports ngā toi Māori and advocate for ngā toi Māori.
Over the next year Creative New Zealand will convene further hui with arts sector leaders and practitioners across the country to encourage closer working relationships for the benefit of the arts.
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