On Thursday last week Year 12 student Taipua Kipa (Ngāpuhi, Tainui, Te Arawa) had three works selected to show in the Ringa Toi exhibition run by NZQA that showcases the artwork of secondary school students with a focus on Toi Māori and Pacific Arts at Excellence level. Taipua's three works accepted included a taxidermied Ruru with a woven harakeke base ‘Te Puaki o Pehi’, A miniature Kākahu ‘Kākahu Oneone’, and a mini sculpey clay sculpture with mini kākahu ‘Āwhina te Ao Hou’. Taipua uses a range of diverse materials in a contemporary and traditional way.

The exhibition includes a range of Māori art forms in the following seven categories:
Toi Wharepora (contemporary and traditional weaving forms)
Toi Whakairo (carving)
Toi Matihiko (digital print where the reproduction processes have been completed by computer)
Toi Matatuhi (printmaking such as intaglio)
Toi Waituhi (paint, ink, and drawing)
Toi Matarau (shaping and fashioning)
Toi Whakaahua (photography with no digital manipulation)
Kaupapa Pasifika (Pasifika artwork)

This year over 150 artworks were submitted from ākonga around Aotearoa. Artworks in the exhibition are judged based on the above categories and awards are presented for the Highly Commended and Commended winners.  The exhibition is at Te Papa and visitors to the exhibition can also vote for the People’s Choice Award recipient.

The exhibition is open to all secondary school and wharekura students working towards achieving NCEA levels 1 to 3 with a focus on Toi Māori and Pacific Artworks at Excellence level.

Taipua won two of the categories at the competition placing Highly Commended. Here are the details of the works that won.

An award for the artwork that celebrates the spiritual essence and heart of Te Māori Te Hokinga Mai – The Return Home. Over 40 Artworks were entered in this Category and Taipua's work won. Here is his entry statement and details of his work.

Kākahu Oneone

 Toi Wharepora Category (contemporary and traditional weaving forms)
Highly Commended

Materials used: hemp macrame cord, wool, cotton, neinei, hoheria, pīngao

One of my favourite places to be is in the ngahere, sitting in the bush in awe at all the different plants around me and I wonder what my tūpuna would have used each plant for. In this kākahu I have expressed my love for the forest by using four different plants in the process. Firstly, the soft hoheria bark which some was dyed using the bark of the raurekau. Secondly, the bright golden pingao from the west coast. Lastly, the rainproof neinei. In this contemporary kākahu I wanted to shine light on uncommon materials utilised by our ancestors to express there are alternatives to just feathers.

Āwhina te Ao Hou

Te Māori’ 40th Anniversary Feature Category

Highly Commended

Materials used: Modeling clay, tin foil, masking tape, muka, duck feathers

We must reflect on the past, the people that influenced Aotearoa to create the world we live in today. Dame Whina Cooper spent her whole life fighting for Māori land rights. We can look to her for inspiration and strength to persevere in our modern day in age. In this sculpture of Dame Whina Cooper, I used techniques of whatu to create and adorn her with a miniature kākahu.

Ringa Toi is recognised as a vehicle to enhance student engagement, and achievement and encourage retention at school. It also provides a platform to advance the use of mātauranga Māori and Pacific knowledge and is a tool to accelerate Māori and Pacific learner success.

The opening at Te Papa was a wonderful day, Taipua, his mother Chanel Kipa and Miss Craig HOD of Visual Art flew down to attend the opening. The competition was formally opened, the winners were announced then everyone got to look around and admire all the artwork. There was a sit down breakfast, and an inspiring Artist Talk by the judge Mr G ( Graeme Hoete) who is a street artist who specialises in photo-realistic murals. Then the Highlight of the day was a behind the scenes tour of the collections not on display. The students, Whanua and Kaiako at the event were all impressed with Taipua’s mahi and talent. We look forward to entering more works next year from students and seeing what Taipu makes next.

The details of the show are below if you or your whānau are in Wellington before the end of the month and would like to check it out. 

Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington
12 to 27 September 2024.
You can visit the exhibition daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
Entry is free.