Toi Mauri is a restorative Visual Art experience : For us, about us, as us.

Initiated in 2018 by parents with artistic rangatahi looking for creative support and mentoring.

I responded to this call and began providing afterschool sessions in the Kaeo playground where the Toi Mauri kaupapa took root.

Then with donations from parents, we could afford to rent the Church Hall with all the amenities. Today, our current venue is provided to us with support from Te Runanga o Whaingaroa, enabling Toi Mauri to continue to inspire future generations of Whangaroa artists.

Toi Mauri 2020 – 2023

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

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

Parents financially supporting the Toi Mauri kaupapa has been vital, and most recently – a Creative Communities grant to help cover materials and artist facilitation fee.

Developing funding networks is important to support the restoration process during its developmental phase. Access to resources, mentoring and venue hire an going necessity.

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

Follow this link for examples of recent community projects:

Community projects – Aria Designs

Learning content

Nga Kaitiaki o Whangaroa : 5 weeks

Explore kaitiaki signs and symbols unique to Whangaroa to inform a body of painting, using stencils and acrylic paint.

Purakau O Whangaroa : 5 weeks

References the creation story that describes Whangaroa being formed by a mighty volcanic eruption. The ancient upheaval represented here as a battle of the Maunga.

Te Ao Hurihuri : 5 weeks

As the koru moves forward, it also returns. Exploring movement on a flat surface using the koru in acrylic paint.

Whenua ki te whenua : 5 weeks

Exploring the land, from the outside – in and the inside – out. Watercolour techniques are used in this painting process and Taratara is the maunga represented here.

Tapa and Noa : 5 weeks

Explore negative and positive space to create 3 dimensional space using black and white acrylic paint.

Whakairo pattern : 5 weeks

Experimtenting with taditional pattern to create new designs, forms and shapes to express a new visual language.

Maramataka o Whangaroa : 5 weeks

Explore tohu/symbols that represent our unique maramataka to further understand how its cycle effects our human condition.