Around 100 Maori and New Zealand-based Pasifika artists will represent Aotearoa alongside 26 other Pacific nations at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam next May and June.
 

Around 100 Maori and New Zealand-based Pasifika artists will represent Aotearoa alongside 26 other Pacific nations at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam next May and June.
 
Considered the premier arts and culture event for the Pacific region, this is a government-to-government invitation, with the Maori Committee of the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand responsible for Aotearoa’s representation.
 
Invitations to the festival were extended to indigenous peoples of the Pacific, and Maori extended their invitation to New Zealand-based contemporary Pasifika artists to present a distinct Aotearoa voice.
 
“Once again we’re extremely pleased with the quality of artists who will be representing Aotearoa next year,” said Darrin Haimona, Head of the Aotearoa delegation for the 2016 festival and Chair of the Maori Committee.
 
“Together with our Pasifika brothers and sisters we will showcase the best of Maori and Pacific art from our country.”
 
Artists were invited to submit applications to be part of the Aotearoa delegation. Those selected represent a breadth of artforms ranging from customary Maori arts such as clay artistry, waka navigation, ta moko, weaving, kapa haka, carving and traditional music, through to contemporary arts practices such as (contemporary) dance, music, visual arts, moving image and sculpture, spoken-word poetry and theatre.
 
“The artists in our delegation will have an opportunity to be part of a unique gathering of artists from Te Moana Nui a Kiwa so they can share artistry and skills. We hope this experience will also inspire future collaborations with colleagues from throughout the Pacific.”
 
The Festival of Pacific Arts takes place every four years, bringing together more than 2,000 artists and other cultural practitioners from 27 Pacific nations. New Zealand has sent a delegation to every festival since 1972. Creative New Zealand will pay for delegates’ travel, meals and per diems.

The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts will take place in Guam from 22 May to 4 June 2016. The festival’s theme in 2016 is: What we Own, What we Have - What we Share - United Voices of the Pacific.

More details on the Aotearoa delegation to come late 2015/early 2016.

Aotearoa artist delegation 2016
Maori artists:
 
Moving image and other art works, photographic research, curatorial networking (Visual Arts)

• Lisa Reihana
• James Pinker

National Collective of Maori Clay Artists

• Baye Riddell
• Rhonda Halliday
• Stevei Houkamau
• Carla Ruka
• Dorothy Waetford
• Amorangi Hikuroa

Kiri (contemporary dance)

• Louise Potiki Bryant
• Paerau Corneal
• Paddy Free

Ta Moko (Maori tattoo)

• Derek Liardelli
• Henare Brooking
• Emma Marino
• Raniera McGrath
• Joni Brooking

Te Toki Voyaging Trust (Waka/Navigation)

• Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and colleague       
• Urban Contemporary Street Art
• Janine and Charles Williams

Whare Whakaruruhau (construct a whare)

• Erena Koopu
• Steve Gibbs
• Makarini Soloman

Party with the Aunties (Theatre/Whakangahau)

• Erina Daniels and performers

Te Haerenga a Kupe (Carve a waharoa)

• Shannon Wafer
• Albert Te Pou
• Rakeiuekaha Kingi
• Hohepa Peni

Te Ao – Karetau Puoro (Singing Maori Puppets)

• James Webster
• Hinemoa Jones

Individual Maori artists:

• Maisey Rika (Music)
• Neke Moa (Adornment)
• Horomona Horo – Te Ao Tawhito, Te Ao Hou (Music)
• Maureen Lander – Dancing Skirts (Raranga)
• Reweti Arapere – Nga Tai Matarau a Kiwa (Visual Arts)
• Robert Ruha – Pumau Enduring Indigenous Messages (Music)
• Te Kahu Rolleston – Te Raranga Kupu: The Woven Word (Spoken Word poetry)
• Moanaroa Zagrobelna (Adornment)

Pacific Artists:

• Te Nii – Weaving, Binding, Sewing Carving (Visual Arts)
• Christopher Charteris
• Kaetaeta Watson
• Lizzy Leckie

Fale Sa (Performance)

• Maiava Nathaniel Lees
• Tameka Sowman
• Ula Buliruarua
• Katerina Faitupatu
• Ian Lesa

Resample Soundscape (Music)

• Matthew Salapu
• Junior Nani
• Tuki Laumea                   

Kula Uli – Indigenous Ink (Tattoo)

• Terry Klavenes
• Matiah Klavenes

Wairua (Moving Image/Sculpture)

• Ioane Ioane
• Tom Bogdanowicz

A/PART from AN/OTHER (Spoken Word/Movement)

• Grace Taylor
• Jahra Rager

Individual Pasifika artists:

• Lisa Taouma – Adorn (Moving Image)
• Karlo Mila-Schaaf – Mana Moana: Ancient source of contemporary flow (Poetry)
• James Nokise – Big Words (Comedy)

Media Release: Creative New Zealand