By Chris Marshall

‘Toitū te Ariki, Toi Tūwharetoa, Ruia Taitea!’ *

The longevity, resilience, innovation and sustainability of Ngāti Tūwharetoa are encapsulated in the theme for the inaugural iwi-led art awards.

Fourteen artists have entered work for the awards and the six-week exhibition at the Taupō Museum and Art Gallery.

**Taupō Museum and Art Gallery curators Piata Winitana-Murray (Ngāti Turumakina) and Tyrone Te Waa (Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Hikairo Ki Te Rena.**

Friday evening’s judging and announcement of first ($3,500), second ($2,500) and third ($1,500) placegetters by judges Te Maari Gardiner (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Gabrielle Belz (Ngapuhi, Te Ati Awa) will bring a lot of hard work by curators Piata Winitana-Murray (Ngāti Turumakina) and Tyrone Te Waa (Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Hikairo Ki Te Rena) to fruition.

The two represent art collective Toi Tūwharetoa, creators of the awards in partnership with Te Kapua Whakapipi.

For Winitana-Murray, painting plinths and walls at the museum on Monday, you get the sense it’s about the art not the work she’s putting in.

“This provides opportunities for new artists to express themselves and we’ve got some young ones in here doing really beautiful work.”

The exhibition is designed to encourage and promote resilience and aspirational thinking.

The support of the Ariki – Tā Tumu Te Heuheu had been key, Winitana-Murray said.

This is acknowledged through his presenting seven portraits of past ariki alongside the exhibition, which will coincide with Ruia Taitea, the first ever Ahurei (festival) of Ngāti Tūwharetoa on Saturday, February 8 at Riverside Park and Unison Amphitheatre.

Artists had to meet certain criteria to enter, said Winitana-Murray. Pieces had to be a new and couldn’t have been exhibited in any other art awards.

“(And) the initiative is from Tūwharetoa and it’s funded by Tūwharetoa so it was for Tūwharetoa artists. One of the criteria obviously was that you have to whakapapa to Tūwharetoa … That’s what the whole Ruia Taitea! festival is all about – celebrating Tūwharetoa but also bringing our people home and reconnecting to the marae, so it’s quite hapu-centric, marae-centric.”

And while this was an adult competition, Winitana-Murray wasn’t ruling out adding a children’s one in future.

More work maybe but the two curators look to have coped so far.

“It’s our first competition, we’re treading a new path here. Tyrone and I have never organised an art awards before, so have had to really figure everything out from scratch. We’re not relying on something someone else has tried, we’re doing things that we feel are appropriate for our people.”

One of these is the addition of several Toi Tautoko or supportive pieces from established senior artists which will be displayed alongside the competition pieces and portraits.

“They wanted to support the exhibition but allow space for others, for the emerging artists we don’t always see,” said Winitana-Murray, “We have segregated the space to make sure that the artists get their own space wholly.”

The awards evening and exhibition opening at Taupō Museum on Friday 7 February starts at 5.30pm.

*‘Ruia taitea kia tū ko taikākā anake’ as a saying means literally strip off the sapwood so the heartwood remains. Metaphorically it can be read as ‘Only the strong survive.’