20 Oct 2025
Creative New Zealand warmly congratulates the eight outstanding artists named as 2025 Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureates at a ceremony in Auckland on Friday 17 October.
Creative New Zealand’s vision is for the arts and ngā toi Māori to flourish, and the Te Tumu Toi Laureate Awards are creating a thriving arts community, enriching lives here and around the world.
One of the criteria for recognition is that the artists have made a lasting contribution to the cultural life of Aotearoa. Creative New Zealand is proud to have supported six of the eight through various funding and development opportunities as their careers have developed.
The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi says the laureates have potential for continued impact. We look forward to seeing what they do next as we reflect on what they have achieved so far.
Bill Direen received the Joanna Hickman, Waiwetu Trust Award for his contribution to music and literature. A true polymath and man of many talents and energy, Bill has been making work in multiple genres for over five decades. In 2010, he was awarded the Michael King Writers’ Centre Residency, enabling him to further his writing.
Cheryl Lucas received the Female Arts Practitioner Award gifted by Liz Aitken, Foggy Valley Aotearoa for her contribution to ceramic art. Cheryl’s work is informed by Te Waipounamu and explores social and environmental issues. She has exhibited internationally and taught and mentored other. She received the Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Fellowship in 2019, creating space for her to focus on her own practice.
Kate Newby received the Gow Family Foundation Sculpture Award for her contribution to sculpture. Kate’s work is at the leading edge of contemporary sculpture practice; subtle, site-responsive works that invite viewers to engage with space, texture, and the everyday. Kate has been the recipient of Creative New Zealand Arts Grants.
Reuben Paterson received the Toi Kō Iriiri Queer Arts Award gifted by Hall Cannon for his contribution to the visual arts. Reuben has had a long association with Creative New Zealand, being one of the artistic delegation that represented New Zealand at the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) in Palau in 2004. In 2014, he was selected for an artist in residence programme in South Korea, an initiative co-funded by the Asia New Zealand Foundation and Creative New Zealand.
Shona Rapira-Davies received Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Award gifted by Jillian Friedlander for her contribution to sculpture and the visual arts. Shona has also been part of a New Zealand artistic delegation to FestPAC, travelling to Hawai’I in 2025 and received a Creative Fellowship Fund in 2024. She is known for being a powerful voice in Māori art and the selection panel noted that she is an inspiration to emerging artists.
Pene Pati received the Burr/Tatham Trust Award for his contribution to opera. Pene is a graduate of the NZ Opera School and a founding member of Sol3 Mio. In 2010, Creative New Zealand awarded him the Iosefa Enari Memorial Award at the Arts Pasifika Awards, recognising his exceptional talent and cultural leadership in opera. He has continued to develop that talent and is recognised internationally as an exceptional tenor.
We also acknowledge Séraphine Pick who received the My ART Visual Arts Award gifted by Sonja and Glenn Hawkins for her contribution to the visual arts and Roseanne Liang, who received the Dame Gaylene Preston Filmmaker Award for her contribution to film.
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