The Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon Judith Tizard, has announced changes to the Board of Te Waka Toi, one of two arts boards operating under the Arts Council of Creative New Zealand.
The three new Board appointments are Kura Te Waru Rewiri of Whangarei, John Huria of Wellington and Te Kahautu Maxwell of Waikato.Kura Te Waru Rewiri (Te Rarawa) is a senior visual artist based in Northland with a long career as an artist and arts educator. She teaches at Northland Polytechnic and previously taught in the Maori Visual Arts department at Massey University, Ilam School of Fine Arts, and at Auckland University.
John Huria (Ngai Tahu) is a Wellington-based literature specialist. He is a director of Ahi Text Solutions, which provides editing and research services with a focus on Maori publishing. He contributed to the award-winning publication on the painter Shane Cotton and recently updated the definitive encyclopedia Maori Life and Custom.
Te Kahautu Maxwell (Te Whakatōhea, Ngai Tai, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngati Awa, Ngati Porou, Tūhoe, Ngati Maniapoto) is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Maori and Pacific Development at the University of Waikato. He is an expert in tikanga Maori and has a strong background in the performing arts, as a composer of haka and mōteatea. He is currently a rohe delegate for Te Matatini.
Marina Sciascia (Ngati Kahungunu) has been reappointed to the Board. She has wide governance and performing arts experience, and coordinated the Maori programme for the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts for several years. She recently co-authored Hakui: Mothers of Porangahau with Hilary Pederson.
All four members have been appointed for three-year terms from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011.
"I am very pleased at the commitment of the appointees and reappointee to serve on the Board. The combination of their wide collective knowledge of Maori arts communities and the good balance of regional perspective and practitioners' voices will provide a strong advocacy for Maori artists and arts organisations." said Judith Tizard.
Judith Tizard also paid tribute to the contributions of retiring members Dr Patu Hohepa, Sandy Adsett and Suzanne Ellison who have all completed their second terms on Te Waka Toi. "Their commitment and contribution to the Board and to Maori arts is greatly appreciated," she said.
Te Waka Toi is the Maori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand. It is responsible for encouraging, promoting and supporting Maori arts in Aotearoa through the allocation of funding to Maori artists, arts organisations, and arts projects.
Press release: Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon Judith Tizard
09/07/08