Tairāwhiti Artists Showcase Toimatapu Exhibition at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

The creative accomplishments of tauira from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Whirikoka Campus are currently on display at the Toimatapu exhibition in Gisborne. Running until 4 December, the showcase features work across three traditional disciplines: whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), and rauangi (mixed media). The exhibition, titled 'Tairawhiti Aroha', follows a challenging year where students had to adapt to online learning environments while maintaining their creative practices. Whakairo tutor Tiopira Rauna highlighted the resilience of the students, noting they embraced the concept of 'he haka koiri'—the necessity of adapting to the environment in which one stands. The carving students focused their efforts on native rākau, including pre-fallen tōtara, to produce their works. Rauangi tutor Johnny Moetara observed that while students initially struggled with screen-based learning, their passion for indigenous arts helped them maintain their creative flow until they could return to a social, collaborative atmosphere. In the raranga department, tutor Erin Rauna focused on the vital role of weaving in retaining and passing on cultural traditions. She encouraged tauira to weave their own tuakiritanga, or identity, into their pieces. Student Amanda Rutherford spent approximately 40 hours creating a specific mahi toi using a mixture of native plants. Through her process, Rutherford noted the importance of exploring traditional materials, despite the modern challenges of accessing plants that are no longer as common as they once were. The exhibition opened with a community-focused charity auction, with proceeds donated to Hospice Tairāwhiti and the 28 Māori Battalion C Company Memorial House. The public can view and purchase the remaining works at the Whirikoka Campus until the exhibition concludes in December.