29 Apr 2025
Creative New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to advocacy advisory group, Te Rōpū Mana Toi.
The group plays a vital role in providing advice, insights, and feedback that informs Creative New Zealand’s advocacy work, as well as helping to prioritise and advance collective advocacy on matters of national significance to the arts sector in Aotearoa.
Joining the group are:
- Nina Oberg Humphries, a Cook Islands artist and co-founder of Tagata Moana Trust. Based in Christchurch, she leads Fibre Gallery, the South Island’s first Pacific art gallery. Nina champions Pacific voices through arts, education, and community work, with an arts practice grounded in cultural identity and contemporary Pacific expression.
- Chris Tse, a writer and editor based in Te Whanganui a Tara, and the current New Zealand Poet Laureate. He is the author of acclaimed poetry collections including How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, He’s So MASC, and Super Model Minority, and co-editor of Out Here, an anthology of LGBTQIA+ writers from Aotearoa.
- Meg Williams, Chief Executive of World of Wearable Art (WOW) and creativity advocate. She previously served as Executive Director of Tāwhiri, overseeing major cultural events including the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and Wellington Jazz Festival, and was volunteer Chair of Toi o Taraika Arts Wellington, supporting the creative sector in the region.
Tracey Monastra, Manager, Advocacy at Creative New Zealand, says the organisation is thrilled to welcome the new members.
“We’re so excited to have Nina, Chris, and Meg join Te Rōpū Mana Toi. Each of them brings a unique combination of knowledge and experience to the table. Their voices will help strengthen our advocacy as we continue to champion the value of the arts, culture and creativity in Aotearoa, and support stronger advocacy across the arts sector.”
They join current Te Rōpū Mana Toi members:
- Jeremy Mayall
- Dolina Wehipeihana
- Tānemahuta Gray
- Karl Chitham
- Megan Peacock-Coyle
Previous members of the rōpū include Rosabel Tan, Kim Morton, Elise Sterback, Fonoti Pati Umaga and Gretchen La Roche.
Te Rōpū Mana Toi reflects Creative New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to working closely with the arts sector to ensure its advocacy is informed and impactful.
Read more about the group’s work in the Te Rōpū Mana Toi Impact Study, which covers its first three years (2021-2024), including whakapapa, kaupapa and significant impact findings.
Creative New Zealand’s advocacy programme promotes the value of arts, culture and creativity through the delivery of public campaigns and engagement; develops tools and resources for sector advocates; and delivers advocacy with local government.
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