06 May 2022
Haramai rā e ngā Taonga Toi a te Waka Toi. Creative New Zealand is excited to announce the 2021 Te Waka Toi Award winners via a free online event on Saturday 9 April 2022, from 7pm-8pm.
These Te Waka Toi Awards celebrate and recognise the artistic excellence, achievement and contribution of 14 Māori artists practising in customary and contemporary arts. The awards event was delayed to 2022 due to the impact of COVID-19.
The awards recognise a range of career stages, artforms and contributions. They include emerging artists, arts leaders, an artist with lived experience of disability, contribution to traditional performing arts (sponsored by Te Matatini), contribution to strengthening te reo Māori (sponsored by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori), and the supreme award, Te Tohu Aroha mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, with a prize of $25,000.
The Te Waka Toi Awards are made possible with support from partners Te Papa Tongarewa, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Matatini Society Incorporated.
Event details
Date: Saturday 9th April 2022
Time: 7pm-8pm NZST
How to access: Creative New Zealand Facebook [the video will be available on YouTube after the event]
Hāniko Te Kurapa, Creative New Zealand’s Kaiwhakahaere, Te Kaupapa o Toi Aotearoa, reflects on 35 years of the Te Waka Toi Awards:
“Ngā toi Māori, Māori arts, have been severely impacted over the past few years, not only due to COVID-19 but also due to the loss of significant Māori arts exponents, Muriwai Ihakara, who was the MC of these Awards for many years, Keri Hulme, Marina Sciascia and recently Dr Moana Jackson.
Tihei Mauri Ora, is as it ever was, the breath of life and creativity of Ngā Toi Māori practitioners that descended to us in the kete of knowledge from the celestial realm, sparks us with optimism about the future, even as we mourn those who are no longer with us.
And so, this opportunity to celebrate excellence in Ngā Toi Māori and recognise the award recipients is a moment we all especially welcome this year, the third hard year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In doing so, we recognise the whakapapa of the Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi, the Te Waka Toi Awards, and those who have made these awards possible for 35 years. We thank whānau, friends, practitioners, kuia, kaumātua and our partners Te Matatini, Te Papa Tongarewa the Museum of New Zealand, and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, whose manaakitanga and support is critical. We also acknowledge Tainui and the Kīngitanga who honoured us with the gift of the name of Te Atairangikaahu for the Supreme Award.”
We've prepared a special video profile on each award recipient - see below.
Te Tohu Aroha mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu | Exemplary/Supreme Award
In recognition of leadership, excellence and outstanding contribution to Ngā Toi Māori
Rawiri Paratene (Ngā Puhi, Te Rarawa) – Actor, Playwright
Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka | Sir Kingi Ihaka Award recognising lifetime contribution
Awarded to kaumātua/kuia in recognition of their contribution to strengthening the continuity of Māori culture through their support of ngā Toi Māori.
Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead (Ngai Te Rangi) – Composer
Dr Haare Williams (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Tūhoe) – Teacher, Poet, Artist, Broadcaster
Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi | Making a Difference Award
Recognises leadership and outstanding contribution to the development of new directions in ngā toi Māori.
Kereti Rautangata (Tainui, Te Arawa) – Master Carver, Traditional martial arts exponent
John Miller (Ngaitewake-ki-uta, Uritaniwha, Ngāti Rēhia (hapū of Ngāpuhi)) – Photographer
Dolina Wehipeihana (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tukorehe) – Dancer, Choreographer, Theatre Producer
Ngā Manu Pīrere | Emerging Māori artist Award
Recognises an emerging artist or collective showing potential in their artform.
Maia Keane (Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata) – Visual arts
Te Haana Paewai (Rangitāne, Ngāruahine) – Visual arts
Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana (Ngāti Hikairo, Tainui, Tūhoe, Ngāti Whakaue) – Actor, Playwright
Te Tohu Iho Pūmanawa Award
Recognises the contribution of a Māori artist with the lived experience of disability to the standing, and standard of Māori arts in New Zealand and/or internationally.
Cara Waretini (Ngāti Rangi, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Pākehā) – Costume Design Artist
Te Tohu o Te Papa Tongarewa Rongomaraeroa Award
Recognising outstanding contribution to ngā toi Māori. Award supported and selected by Te Papa Tongarewa.
Hokimoana Te Rika-Hererangi (Tūhoe) – traditional Māori arts knowledge holder, Curator, Archivist, Researcher
Moi mai rā, e kui e
Te Tohu Whakamanawa o Te Matatini
Recognises an outstanding contribution to Kapa Haka. Supported and selected by Te Matatini Society Inc.
Tangiwai Ria (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki)
Trevor Maxwell (Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa)
Te Tohu Aroha mō Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi: ‘Whakarongo, Titiro, Kōrero’
Recognises the recipient’s outstanding work strengthening Te Reo Rangatira. Supported and selected by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, The Māori Language Commission.
Dame Hinewehi Mohi (Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūhoe) – Singer, Songwriter, Music Producer
Media queries:
Rebecca Sellwood
M: +64 21 911 208 | E: rebecca.sellwood@creativenz.govt.nz
Esther Lees
M: +64 27 404 3209 | E: esther.lees@creativenz.govt.nz
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