Toi Mauri

Toi Mauri (creative lifeforce) is designed to provide a unique Whangaroa visual art experience through the painting process using a range of mediums specific to this practice.

Created by Whangaroa artist Yazma Smith, in response to the 200 year gap in the evolution of our visual art history.

‘There is no question that the tribes of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga were rich in art works. In fact in the scene painted by Earle of his meeting with the wounded cheif Hongi Hika in November 1827 at the Bay of Islands, objects of art are much in evidence – two fully decorated war canoes in the sea, a carved canoe prow on the beach, a fully carved poupou laying on the sand, a decorated pataka in the background, a memorial post up on the hill, cloaks and capes to start a reasonable museum collection and enough tattooed faces and thighs to excite any artist’.

‘Truly, Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu, Ngati Hine and Ngapuhi were artiscally wealthy in 1827 but within a short time afterwards they lost it all’.

Toi Mauri is a visual art tool created to restore and revive the creative life force of a unique Whangaroa cultural arts identity.

Rangatahi visual art workshops

In regards to a restorative visual art process, I believe this must start with our tai tamariki (youth) of Whangaroa who are interested in developing their creative art potential. I have begun this process by delivering weekly afterschool classes with a small group of enthusiastic artists.

Here is a slideshow of our Toi Mauri artworks from last year 2020. These paintings were made by the 10 – 12 year olds using watercolours on canvas paper to reflect and explore visually the maunga of Whangaroa.

These paintings also reflect an emotional response that these landscapes resonate.

These pain

Based on the success of these classes, I am organising rangatahi (teenage) and tuakana (adult) painting groups also by providing creative visual art exercises that support and empower our spiritual, mental and emotional well being.

Toi Mauri – timetable

Monday: Age 10 – 12

Tuesday: Age 13 – 18 (yet to be organised)

Thursday: Age 5 – 9

Friday: Adult (yet to be organised)

Venue:  Theology/Eco centre, Waikare Ave, Kaeo

Time: After school 3.30 – 5.30

Cost: $15 per person. This covers venue fee, art materials and light refreshments. This fee can be paid directly into the Toi Mauri account:

12-3076-0424989-00

Please use your childs name as reference.

Toi mauri: Tai tamariki (youth)

The Monday & Tuesday workshops are designed for tamariki dedicated to developing their creative potential. 

The workshops will provide technical skills and experience using dry and wet mediums such as paint, ink (printmaking), pencil (drawing) and pastel.

These workshops are designed to prepare tamariki for college visual art curriculum – building technical confidence, self awareness and developing their creative process.

The Thursday workshops are designed for our tamariki teina developing their creative spirit. These workshops are designed with playful exploration using a variety of wet and dry mediums to experiment with.

Toi mauri: Tangata (Adult) workshops

The adult classes are designed with an indigenous model of creative content that empowers and informs cultural identity.

These models include:

Nga Tapa wha – Hau ora (wholistic well being)

The qualities of Te ihi, Te wehi, Te wana – Maori aesthetics

Te Po, Te Kore, Te Wheiao, Te ao marama – The creative force