Whangarei master carver, teacher and mentor Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka (Ngati Wai, Tainui, Ngapuhi) was recognised today when Creative New Zealand presented him the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award 2007. His contribution was acknowledged during the presentation of the Creative Places Awards 2007, which recognise local government's vital investment in the arts of New Zealand.

Waitakere City Council won the Premier Creative Places Award 2007. Whangarei master carver, teacher and mentor Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka (Ngati Wai, Tainui, Ngapuhi) was recognised today when Creative New Zealand presented him the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award 2007. His contribution was acknowledged during the presentation of the Creative Places Awards 2007, which recognise local government's vital investment in the arts of New Zealand.

Waitakere City Council won the Premier Creative Places Award 2007.Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand, said Te Warihi had made a huge contribution to Northland and to New Zealand.

"Te Warihi has earned considerable mana among iwi, councillors, artists, the museum sector and the wider community," Wainwright said. "His leadership skills, ability to work collaboratively and his mentoring of young artists are among the qualities that make him a fine recipient of this year's Outstanding Individual Achievement Award."

Along with a national and international reputation for his artwork, Te Warihi is widely respected for his profound knowledge of tikanga Maori. A graduate of the first intake of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua in 1969, he has touched the lives of many people in Northland and beyond over the past thirty years.

As a master carver, he has represented Maori and New Zealand at conferences and seminars around the world. Among his many works are the carvings in the Maori Affairs Select Committee Room of Parliament Buildings, the carving of Whangarei's Terenga Paraoa Marae and Te Wairoa, an 18-metre waka taua.

Two of his recent sculptural works in Whangarei - Waka and Wave and Pou Ihi - epitomise his skills in working collaboratively with a range of people.

Whangarei District Council won a Judges' Citation for Waka and Wave, a bicultural partnership project resulting in a stone sculpture by Te Warihi and Kerikeri artist Chris Booth.

This year's judges of the Creative Places Awards are Hilary Sumpter, Director of Arts Promotion Trust in Whangarei; Tanya Wilkinson, an Auckland curator; Paul Matheson, the Mayor of Nelson; Ali Bramwell, Dunedin artist and curator; and Deidre Brown, senior lecturer in architecture at Auckland University.

Waitakere City Council wins for 'best practice model'

The judges described Waitakere City Council's Arts:Design collaboration policy and its integration into the development of a new city centre as a best practice model.

"In presenting the Premier Award to Waitakere City, we are also acknowledging the scale of this project, the high level of consultation and the involvement of many local artists."

The prize for the Premier Creative Places Award is a $10,000 contribution from Creative New Zealand towards the commissioning of a new public artwork, to be chosen by the winner. The Premier Award was chosen from the district and city council winners in the following categories: Arts Provision, Cultural Festivals and Arts Events and Built Environment.

Waitakere City Council also won the Built Environment: City or Regional Councils Category. Four other district or city councils won category awards for their projects - Auckland City Council, New Plymouth District Council, Grey District Council and Kaikoura District Council. Whangarei District Council and Porirua City Council were also acknowledged with Judges' Citations.

17/7/07

Image: Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka, winner of the Outstanding Individual Contribution Award 2007.