The annual awards for Te Waka Toi were staged last Saturday evening. While it was cold, windy & wet outside guests were greeted...

Image: Dr Cliff Whiting accepting his 2003 Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi Exemplary Award from Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. The annual awards for Te Waka Toi were staged last Saturday evening. While it was cold, windy & wet outside guests were greeted...

Image: Dr Cliff Whiting accepting his 2003 Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi Exemplary Award from Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.to a venue that had the appearance of being in a marque from uptown ways!

With the harbour view as the backdrop and the city skyline in the foreground (not foreshore!) it
certainly gave a classy look to what became a very memorable night for recipients, and their whanau.

Scholarships were presented to:
Hemi Macgregor 2nd year Masters Visual Arts
Shane James 2nd year Masters Visual Arts
Ngawai Simpson Bachelor Fine Arts

Christina Wirihana received the New Work Award for her Exhibition "Whakapaatari: Challenging" which is
a significant body of weaving in new media including fibre metal and plastic. She and her whanau were
overwhelmed .

Te Tohu Aroha Mo Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi acknowledges her contribution to weaving, Performing arts, Te Reo, Composition. and reflects her membership of MASPAC. Her whanau travelled from Dunedin, Christchurch
Whanagrei and the East Coast. In so doing they provided a face to her huge contribution to Maori art and life. This award was presented to Professor Timoti Karetu in recognition of the breadth of his work as a staunch advocate,
linguist and exceptional exponent of te reo. He is without peer!

Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu presented the five kaumatua awards to:
Reihana Parata an expert weaver and matriarch of her whanau.

Patricia Grace Author par excellence & her husband Waiariki Grace kaumatua, respected senior elder of his marae.

Tama Tomoana 86 years young son of the famed Paraire Tomoana composer of Maori music classics such as pokarekare ana. He is a composer, musician, and mainstay in his whanau.

Hana Cotter 89 years young who has 8 children 40 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren articulate in both English & te reo.

Te Arikinui also presented Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi to Dr Cliff Whiting for his significant contribution to Maori Art Te Marae at Te Papa and commissions throughout the world attest to his innovation and his dynamism. He gave a dissertation on how vital it is for the young to learn the story behind the story through talking to their elders as a basis of gaining understanding and knowledge he also gave his view of the Foreshore debate based upon his traditions - - - - ..

Te Waka Toi Chair Elizabeth Ellis says Dr Whiting's innovative and outstanding work over many years made him an exceptional candidate for the award.

"Cliff is one of the highly significant Maori artists who took the traditional arts of Maori into the 20th century and beyond," she said.

"Now, as in years to come, when our mokopuna study art of this era, Cliff Whiting's work will stand out as having forged new cultural directions for Maori.

"In particular, he is renowned not only for his exceptional and bold use of colour but also his unique treatment of form and shape. His use of customboard revolutionalised the traditional meeting house, as exemplified with Maru Kaitatea at Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura. His work challenges misconceptions about how Maori carving and contemporary art can be successfully fused together as in Te Marae, Te Papa Tongarewa.

"He is a leader in his field and for that reason the perfect recipient of the Te Waka Toi Exemplary Award," Ms Ellis said.

Dr Whiting was born in Te Kaha on 6 May 1936. He was educated in Te Kaha until he began teacher training in 1955 at Wellington Teachers' College. He became involved in art education and was a group of young contemporary Maori artists swept along by the vision of Gordon Tovey, the Department of Education's national art supervisor. During the Tovey era, Maori art was introduced to schools by the likes of Ralph Hotere, Fred Graham, Arnold Wilson, and Para Matchitt. Cliff Whiting worked as an art adviser for the Department of Education from 1958 to 1972.

His involvement in education continued at Palmerston North Teachers' College where he was a lecturer in Maori art from 1972 until 1981. It was there he introduced the students to marae visits up the Wanganui River at a time when schools and marae generally did not mix.

He was also among the first wave of contemporary Maori artists who began regularly illustrating for school publications like Te Wharekura and Tautoko.

Dr Whiting's passion for marae-based arts continued as a member of the Maori Advisory Board of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust when it initiated conservation work on marae. He places high importance on the role of marae to the maintenance of Maori arts and culture - the visual artforms like whakairo and raranga integrated with the tikanga of the marae.

In 1995, Dr Whiting was appointed to the role of Te Kaihautu of Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand. In that role he pursued Te Papa's bicultural process, based on the Treaty of Waitangi, and worked closely with iwi as well as Te Papa staff. Te Papa is the home of one of his most prominent public legacies - the marae Te Hono ki Hawaiki and surrounding areas.

Dr Whiting's public service includes serving as Deputy Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He was a foundation member of MASPAC, the Maori and South Pacific Arts Council, which he later chaired.

His impressive, large-scale installations are prominently displayed in institutions such as the Christchurch High Court, the National Library of New Zealand, National Archives, Otago Museum and Te Papa. His most recent major work was the completion of the wharenui Tahu Potiki at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff, which opened in February this year.

When the toi iho „¢ mark, denoting quality and authenticity in Maori arts, was implemented last year, Cliff Whiting was awarded membership to Te Ara Whakarei which acknowledges consistent excellence in the arts.

He has been a member of the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest honour, since 1998.

Elizabeth Ellis welcomed guests and spoke about the work of Te Waka Toi, the Associate Minister also gave an off the cuff speech to a very receptive audience. Generally speaking a very enjoyable night was had by all.

Established in 1995 by Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, the annual Te Tohu Tiketike a Te Waka Toi recognises outstanding leadership and service to Maori arts and culture.

Te Waka Toi Chair Elizabeth Ellis says Dr Whiting's innovative and outstanding work over many years made him an exceptional candidate for the award.

"Cliff is one of the highly significant Maori artists who took the traditional arts of Maori into the 20th century and beyond," she said.

"Now, as in years to come, when our mokopuna study art of this era, Cliff Whiting's work will stand out as having forged new cultural directions for Maori.

"In particular, he is renowned not only for his exceptional and bold use of colour but also his unique treatment of form and shape. His use of customboard revolutionalised the traditional meeting house, as exemplified with Maru Kaitatea at Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura. His work challenges misconceptions about how Maori carving and contemporary art can be successfully fused together as in Te Marae, Te Papa Tongarewa.

"He is a leader in his field and for that reason the perfect recipient of the Te Waka Toi Exemplary Award," Ms Ellis said.

Dr Whiting was born in Te Kaha on 6 May 1936. He was educated in Te Kaha until he began teacher training in 1955 at Wellington Teachers' College. He became involved in art education and was a group of young contemporary Maori artists swept along by the vision of Gordon Tovey, the Department of Education's national art supervisor. During the Tovey era, Maori art was introduced to schools by the likes of Ralph Hotere, Fred Graham, Arnold Wilson, and Para Matchitt. Cliff Whiting worked as an art adviser for the Department of Education from 1958 to 1972.

His involvement in education continued at Palmerston North Teachers' College where he was a lecturer in Maori art from 1972 until 1981. It was there he introduced the students to marae visits up the Wanganui River at a time when schools and marae generally did not mix.

He was also among the first wave of contemporary Maori artists who began regularly illustrating for school publications like Te Wharekura and Tautoko.

Dr Whiting's passion for marae-based arts continued as a member of the Maori Advisory Board of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust when it initiated conservation work on marae. He places high importance on the role of marae to the maintenance of Maori arts and culture - the visual artforms like whakairo and raranga integrated with the tikanga of the marae.

In 1995, Dr Whiting was appointed to the role of Te Kaihautu of Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand. In that role he pursued Te Papa's bicultural process, based on the Treaty of Waitangi, and worked closely with iwi as well as Te Papa staff. Te Papa is the home of one of his most prominent public legacies - the marae Te Hono ki Hawaiki and surrounding areas.

Dr Whiting's public service includes serving as Deputy Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. He was a foundation member of MASPAC, the Maori and South Pacific Arts Council, which he later chaired.

His impressive, large-scale installations are prominently displayed in institutions such as the Christchurch High Court, the National Library of New Zealand, National Archives, Otago Museum and Te Papa. His most recent major work was the completion of the wharenui Tahu Potiki at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff, which opened in February this year.

When the toi iho „¢ mark, denoting quality and authenticity in Maori arts, was implemented last year, Cliff Whiting was awarded membership to Te Ara Whakarei which acknowledges consistent excellence in the arts.

He has been a member of the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest honour, since 1998.