A new public exhibition of toi (artwork) created by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira (students) from Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and other areas is getting underway next week.

The exhibition - named by tauira as Rū Harakeke Pū Harakau, He Toi Whenua, He Toi Moana, He Taonga Tuku Iho - is being held at 37 Taupiri Street, Te Kūiti. Entry is free and it will run between 9am and 5pm from Tuesday 26 November till Friday 29 November.

Raranga (weaving) and whakairo (carving) works will be on display. They will include items ranging from large muka korowai in the making, mini korowai, muka kete, kete whakairo, aaro and small konae.

The works have been produced by tauira living in a range of areas who study at the Maniapoto (Te Kuiti) and Apakura (Te Awamutu) campuses.

Kaiwhakahaere Ako (manager educational delivery) Zina Manu says the Maniapoto campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has been curating and organising student exhibitions for the past four years.

“They provide an important platform for the students of the whakairo and raranga programmes to share all of their hard work and achievement with their fellow tauira, whānau and the local community of Te Kūiti.

“The student exhibition is also a great opportunity to re-engage with the local community and let them know what programmes we have for the following year.”

The naming of the exhibition by tauira is part of an ongoing tradition. “Each year the exhibition is given a name acknowledging certain aspects of toi māori and those
who have paved the way for mahi toi.”

This year’s name - Rū Harakeke Pū Harakau, He Toi Whenua, He Toi Moana, He Taonga Tuku Iho - is an acknowledgment to the practices of kairaranga (weavers) and kaiwhakairo (carvers) and their respective mediums.

It is also an acknowledgment to Rua Te Pupuke (the progenitor of wood carving) and Hineteiwaiwa (the principle goddess of Te Whare Pora - the house of weaving).