Around 100 Maori and New Zealand-based Pacific artists will represent Aotearoa alongside 27 other Pacific nations at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in Solomon Islands in July this year.

Around 100 Maori and New Zealand-based Pacific artists will represent Aotearoa alongside 27 other Pacific nations at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in Solomon Islands in July this year.

Considered the premier arts and culture event for the Pacific region, this is a government-to-government invitation with Te Waka Toi, the Maori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, responsible for Aotearoa’s representation. Te Arikinui King Tuheitia will lead the delegation as traditional head.

Maori and Pasifika voices

Invitations to the festival have been made to indigenous peoples of the Pacific, and Maori have extended their invitation to New Zealand-based Pacific artists.

“As tangata whenua our story is unique. Part of that story is our relationship with all peoples of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, so we are proud to collaborate with Pasifika artists. Together we will showcase the best of Maori and Pacific art from Aotearoa - both traditional and contemporary,” said Darrin Haimona, Chair of Te Waka Toi and formal leader of the delegation.

Pele Walker, Chair of the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand said, "for New Zealand-based Pasifika artists, this is an important opportunity to reconnect with their origins while presenting a new perspective, shaped by their life in New Zealand."

Artists from North and South

Artists were invited to submit expressions of interest to participate in the delegation. Among those selected are weaver Emaraina Small (Napier), poet Daren Kamali (Auckland), sculptors Carla Ruka (Auckland) and Will Ngakuru (Northland), painter Priscilla Cowie (North Canterbury), Pacific Underground (Auckland) and Koile (Dunedin).

Travelling to the Solomon Islands is especially poignant for one artist. Steven Gwaliasi grew up on Malaita Island, but has lived in New Zealand for more than 20 years. Based in Hokitika, Steven is a sculptor, carver, jewellery maker and teacher. He combines Melanesian imagery and West Coast resources, with much of his work made from pounamu.

Husband and wife team Jeffrey Addison and Whaitaima Te Whare (Taupo) are part of a revival movement of a lesser known Maori art-form, puppet theatre. They will present the story, Tawhaki and the Maori Potatoes using karetao (carved marionettes). Also traditional puppeteers, musician Jerome Kavanagh (Taihape) and James Webster (Whitianga) will participate in the festival. James is celebrated for his work with taonga puoro, ta moko and sculpture. He recently featured in the Maori Troilus and Cressida which will be performed in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in April.

The performing arts including kapa haka, contemporary dance and an evolution of Maori performance, developed 100 years ago called Haka Theatre, are strongly represented by reigning national kapa haka champion Te Matarae i Orehu (Rotorua), leading contemporary dance company Atamira (Auckland) and multi-disciplinary performers, Kura Te Ua and Ngarino Watt (Auckland).

Niuean writer Dianna Fuemana (Auckland) will be joined by daughter Reid Elisaia and nephew Ali Foai to stage her play Birds. Dianna recently won a 2012 United States Screenwriting Internship Scholarship, securing a three month placement at Killer Films, New York.

In her early 70s, master weaver Misa Emma Keshsa (Dunedin) brings decades of experience. Taught to weave as a child in Samoa, Emma’s subsequent years of sharing knowledge with communities here and overseas, earned her the Queen's Service Medal in 2011.

A group of tohunga of Maori heritage artforms will also join the delegation, adding their expertise, reputation and mana to Aotearoa/New Zealand’s presence at the festival.

The overall group will travel with support from the Ministry of Defence who have donated the use of an RNZAF Boeing 757 for the journey to Honiara and back. Creative New Zealand has invested $500,000 to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s presence at the festival and will provide on the ground support staff in collaboration with the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara.

The 11th Festival of Pacific Arts runs from 1- 13 July 2012. Information about the artists in the delegation can be found on the Creative New Zealand website. Aotearoa New Zealand has sent a delegation to every festival since 1972.

Confirmed artists are:

Atamira Maori Contemporary Dance Theatre;

Mark Bonnington, Auckland

Bianca Hyslop, Auckland

Kelly Nash, Auckland

Nancy Wijon, Auckland

Jack Gray, Ngapuhi, Auckland

Taiaroa Royal, Auckland

Moss Patterson, Auckland

Vanda Karolczak, Auckland

Sarah Briggs, Auckland

Te Matarae i Orehu (team numbers to be confirmed) Rotorua

Pacific Underground;

Tanya Muagututi’a, Auckland

Hemi Lesatele, Dunedin

Posenai Mavaenga,  Dunedin

Andrew Sione, Christchurch

Toro Pikopiko Puppet Theatre;

Jeffrey Addison, Taupo

Whaitaima Te Whare, Taupo

Koile;

Eshan Dean, Dunedin

Hiliako Iaheto,  Dunedin

Rangitakau Tekii,  Dunedin

Tao;

Jerome Kavanagh, Taihape

James Webster, Whitianga

Nga Kaihanga Uku;

Paerau Corneal, Palmerston North

Davina Duke, Whangarei

Hera Johns, Auckland

Dorothy Waetford, Whangarei

Rhonda Halliday, Northland

Amorangi Hikuroa, Whangarei

Haka Theatre;

Kura Te Ua, Auckland

Ngarino Watt, Waikato,  Auckland

“Birds”;

Dianna Fuemana, Auckland

Ali Foai, Auckland

Reid Elisaia, Auckland

Individual artists

Emma Kesha, Dunedin

Carla Ruka, Auckland

Toni Huata, Wellington

Daren Kamali,  Auckland

Steven Gwaliasi, Hokitika

William Ngakuru, Northland

Wendy Whitehead, Napier

Priscilla Cowie, Canterbury

Emaraina Small, Napier

Visesio Siasau, Hamilton

Media Release: Creative New Zealand