03 Mar 2020
A diverse and talented delegation of Māori and New Zealand-based contemporary Pasifika artists and rangatahi leaders will represent Aotearoa, alongside 27 other Pacific nations, at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Hawai’i in June 2020.
Considered the premier arts and culture event for the Pacific region, this is a government-to-government invitation, with the Māori Committee of the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand responsible for the Aotearoa representation.
Twenty-eight Pacific nations were invited to attend, and the Arts Council extended an invitation to New Zealand-based contemporary Pasifika artists to present a voice of Aotearoa within Te Moana-nui-kiwa.
“We’re extremely pleased with the quality and range of emerging and established artists, selected from a deep, rich pool of applicants, to represent Aotearoa at the 2020 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture,” said Dean Whiting, co-head of the delegation and Chair of the Māori Committee. Dean and Arts Council Deputy Chair Caren Rangi will share the head of delegation role.
“Together with our Pasifika whanau we will showcase some of our country’s best Māori and Pacific art, supporting the vision of our Māori Arts Strategy, Te Hā o ngā Toi, to see ngā toi Māori everywhere, that is highly valued in Aotearoa as part of our distinct identity, and is recognised and admired globally. The festival provides a valuable opportunity to share and celebrate indigenous artistry and skills and for the artists to also develop networks throughout the Pacific for future collaborations,” Dean said.
In total, 27 projects representing 65 artists were selected for the Aotearoa delegation, and $125,241 awarded to support these projects. Creative New Zealand received 134 eligible applications, representing 362 artists.
Those selected represent a breadth of artforms ranging from customary Māori arts such as uku (clay artistry), taonga pūoro (traditional Māori musical instruments), tā moko (Māori tattoo), weaving and whakairo (carving), through to contemporary arts practices such as dance, music, visual arts, moving image and sculpture, spoken-word poetry and theatre.
The delegation also includes kaupapa waka (waka knowledge, including navigation) and representatives of Ngā Tūmanako, the 2019 winners of national kapa haka competition Te Matatini. The winners of Te Matatini in the year before the festival are invited to be a part of the Aotearoa delegation each festival.
In a first for the event, the 2020 festival will include Ka Hao Te Rangatahi, a youth leadership ambassador programme. Six rangatahi were selected for the programme from 43 eligible applications. Connected to the arts and already making a difference in their communities, they will explore, discuss and debate language, culture, art, environment, politics and society with other young leaders from around the Pacific.
The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture takes place every four years, bringing together 3,000 delegates and other cultural practitioners from Pacific nations. New Zealand has sent a delegation to every festival since 1972. Creative New Zealand will pay for delegates’ travel, meals and per diems and provide some project funding.
The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture will take place in Hawai’i from 10 to 21 June 2020. The festival’s theme is “E Kū i Ka Hoe Uli; a e Kohi i Ka Pale Kai” Take Hold of the Steering Paddle; And Press it Against the Boat’s Side (Steer free; steer your own course).
More details on the Aotearoa delegation to come late 2019/early 2020.
Media enquiries to:
Tere Harrison
Senior Communications Adviser – Māori
M: +64-27-2576821 | DDI: +64 4 473 9738 | E: tere.harrison@creativenz.govt.nz
Aotearoa delegation - Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture 2020
Māori artists
Urban Contemporary Street Art (visual arts)
Janine and (Bud) Charles Williams
Ngā Kaihunga Uku: Nga Ahi Ki Roto - The Fires Within (uku – clay artistry)
Baye Riddell
Rhonda Halliday-Inglis
Carla Ruka
Noelle Jakeman
Iwikuamo‘o, The Backbone of the Night Sky from Hokupa'a to Māhutonga (visual arts)
Nikau Hindin
Tā Moko ki Hawai’i (tā moko - Māori tattoo)
Te Makarini Solomon
Anikaaro Harawira
Joni Brooking
Henare Brooking
Tawata Productions - Fire In The Water, Fire In The Sky (theatre)
Miria George
Te Hau Winitana
Mapihi Kelland
Amanda Noblett
Celebrate Atamira (dance)
Jack Gray
Bianca Hyslop
Nancy Wijohn
Sean MacDonald
Matiu Hamuera
E Hinemoana, e Tangaroa | Facing the Rising Tide (literature)
Nadine Hura
Pūrākau (taonga pūoro - traditional Māori musical instruments, karetao Māori - Māori puppetry)
James Webster
Hinemoa Jones
Hinewirangi Morgan
Toi Āmai: Papa (theatre)
Juanita Hepi
Tola Newbery
Scotty Cotter
Hina whakamau tai - Hina the tide controller (craft/object)
Moanaroa Zagrobelna
Neke Moa
Te Rehia: SolOthello (theatre)
Amber Curreen
Regan Taylor
Toi Whakaata - Into the light (visual arts)
Jasmine Horton
Vanessa Edwards
Samantha Farquhar
Sis/Tita ... Ngā Tuahine - working title (painting)
Natasha Keating
Bethany Edmunds
Ngā Puu Tapatoru (craft/object)
Rangi Kipa
Hera Johns
Matthew McIntyre Wilson
Ipukarea| Ihumātao (photography)
Qiane Matata-Sipu
Traditional weaving
Te Atiwei Ririnui
Christina Wirihana
Edna Pahewa
Multimedia work
Amber Bridgman
Kapa Haka
Ngā Tūmanako
Haumi E (Storytelling)
Te Kahureremoa Taumata
Khali Philip-Barbara
Te Kahupakea Rolleston
Ka Hao Te Rangatahi (Youth Leadership Ambassador) Programme
Māori:
Sonny Ngatai
Stevie Davis-Tana
Maia Abraham
Pasifika:
Etanah Fuimaono-Lalau
Zechariah Soakai
Emily Muli
Pasifika Artists
Contemporary Tatau Practice (visual arts)
Tyla Ta'ufo'ou
Poetry readings from “The Goddess Muscle”
Karlo Mila-Schaaf
Fine Fatale: Geish/Tuiga Hawai'i (dance)
Mario Faumui
Amanaki Prescott-Faletau
Valentino Maliko
Raukawa Tuhura
Petmal Petelo
Peruvian Slave Trade (Black Birding) in Tokelau 1800s (sculpture)
Jack Kirifi
Moses Viliamu
DA-KU SET: Nostalgia_Ultra (graphics)
Alex Aoki
Darelle Teau
E toa lou loto? Do you have the WARRIOR spirit? (poetry)
Daisy Lavea-Timo
Podcasting with D.A.N.C.E. art club (storytelling)
Ahilapalapa Rands
Tuafale Tanoa
Vaimaila Urale
Visual Arts
Anton Carter
Photography
Raymond Sagapolutele