Toi Mauri is a restorative Maori Visual Art experience.

Toi Mauri was created in response to parents of artistic rangatahi reaching out through the community Facebook page, seeking mentoring to support the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing of their rangatahi – through their love of art.

Toi Mauri delivers activities/exercises exploring mixed media eg paint, pencil, pastel, print to express the inner world, the heart of our creative life force and source of self-expression, self-reflection and self-determination.

Humble beginnings began in the Kaeo playground where the Toi Mauri kaupapa took root.

A generous local, saw us in the park and offered a space at her Eco centre, where Toi Mauri was based for a year. This was a welcoming space with the colder months. However, when the covid restrictions came, this space became unavailable, closing its doors to the public.

The Toi Mauri kaupapa was revived after covid, with a donation from parents to rent the Church Hall in Kaeo where the workshops were delivered for a year. This became financially unsustainable and a alternative space was sought.

Thankfully, Toi Mauri students were provided a space from Te Runanga o Whaingaroa, based there for 2 years. Then currently at Te Pokopu – community hauora hub on the mainstreet of Kaeo township

Toi Mauri is grateful for the community support it has continuously received over its developmental stages. This support providing the encouragement to inspire another succession of talented Whangaroa artists.

Toi Mauri 2018 – 2025

Toi Mauri reflects on our Whangaroatanga for creative context, visual content and spiritual connection.

Toi Mauri also aims to equip and encourage our Ranagatahi to participate in community projects, events, exhibitions and festivals by exposing them to a range of visual art disciplines.

Parents supportng their ranagatahi through the Toi Mauri experience are a driving force in keeping this kaupapa alive.

However, due to current social economic pressures, parental support is limited. Therefore, developing funding opportunities to support the Toi Mauri kaupapa is necessary, enabling talented Rangatahi from all walks of life to participate. Last but not least, an opportunity to develop myself professionally.

The long-term goal for Toi Mauri is to build an artist Studio/workshop on whanau whenua at Pupuke for the purpose of workshops, exhibitions, holiday programmes and wananga.