For Māori, by Māori
In a ground-breaking initiative, Māori storytelling and artistic expression are now on show at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, thanks to the endeavours of two wāhine and their community.
Storytelling has always been a strong tradition for Māori. Now, for the first time at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, there is a dedicated space where Māori can come together to share not just stories, but a range of art forms.
“The idea for this space came back in 2019, when The Arts Centre worked with its Māori Advisory Committee to find a dedicated arts space for Māori,” explains Ngaio Cowell, co-creator of Te Whare Tapere.
Te Whare Tapere were pre-colonial houses of storytelling, where Māori would come together to celebrate and share their stories and oral histories through a range of art – whether that be performances, kōrero (talks) or exhibitions. Thanks to the research of Charles Royal, Te Whare Tapere traditions have seen a resurgence in understanding and activation.
“There was dance, puppetry, visual art, and more,” says Ngaio. “What’s fascinating about the history of these whare tapere is that warriors would return from battle and go first to the whare tapere to act out what they had experienced, as a form of therapy, before they returned to their whānau.”
Ngaio (Waikato Tainui, Ngaati Te Ata, Ngāti Porou, Tauiwi) brings a visual arts background to the project. As a kairaranga (weaver) and a graphic designer, she is familiar with creating a space that resonates with Māori. Co-creator Juanita Hepi (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Mutunga, Moriori, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi) has a background in theatre, education, and storytelling.
“This is not a European-style gallery,” says Ngaio. “Before our opening last September, we invited the community and some artists to come and paint on the walls. We used earth pigments from the local area. It was a way of transferring mauri (life force) to the space and starting to build that sense of belonging. The names and aspirations of local artists and tamariki have literally been written into the walls.”
From Māori carver Riki Manuel’s carved tiki at the entrance, the space is a platform for Māori to display their toi in whatever form it takes. “We’ve had over 100 Māori artists take part since our official opening in September, and most have been paid, thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as Christchurch City Council, NZ Lottery Grants Board, and Rātā Foundation.”
Upcoming events include Te Whare Tapere Live: a collection of performances, ranging from dance, te reo Māori jazz, and rapping to poetry and comedy. This event takes place from 20–26 May at Te Whare Tapere.
For Juanita and Ngaio, they are proud to provide a safe space and see it as an honour to explore these narratives further, where Māori can express themselves through their art. “It’s very much about facilitating the intergenerational transfer of mātauraka (knowledge/wisdom) – it’s a warm, safe space to practise kā toi Māori. It’s both a privilege and a responsibility that we are proud to undertake.”
Look out for other exhibitions and activations running throughout the year – open Tuesdays to Saturdays 11am–3pm. Work is underway to create a kaupapa Matariki exhibition in June. Keep up to date via socials.