Former All Black strengthens passion for toi through wānanga programme
Former All Black Kees Meeuws has always had a passion for toi, so much so, that in his earlier years he studied at Elam School of Fine Arts, completing a foundation year and first year sculpture.
But due to rugby and professional contracts that came calling, he put his toi studies on hold to pursue his sporting dreams.
Over the past few years, as he’s taken a step back from rugby, Kees has been able to get back in touch with his creative side and started producing toi again.
“I’ve dabbled in art for a while. I’ve had a couple of exhibitions in collaboration with another Māori artist and friend of mine, David Burke. But I’ve always just wanted to learn more about the kaupapa and tikanga behind the art,” says Kees.
Although already a practicing artist, Kees still felt he was missing something when it came to his creative side.
Thankfully, he was able to find that missing piece when he enrolled in Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Toi Maruata programme at the Dunedin campus.
“To be able to do this programme, Toi Maruata through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, was important for me. Being urban Māori, I’m kind of self taught in Māori art and design and I really wanted to understand more of the protocol and that side of things that comes along with doing mahi toi.”
After seeing his daughter complete the programme in Semester A of 2023, Kees knew it was the right time for him to step up and study once again.
“She did it the first semester and I did it the second semester. She was the reason that I did it. I saw her class exhibition and I loved what I saw. Once I saw her exhibition I said, this is what I want to do and I signed up straight away. I made time and made it happen.”
Kees has since participated in his own Te Wānanga o Aotearoa exhibition alongside his fellow tauira, saying it was a moment he was highly proud of and he was over the moon with the result of his mahi toi.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing what Te Wānanga o Aotearoa offers, in all areas. It’s a place where you can be yourself and feel welcomed in the Māori world. It’s completely different to studying at a university or polytechnic, it is much more humbling and grounding and the experience that you get, you will forever hold on to.”
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in the Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art, Raranga, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Creating the spark for business success
With plenty of experience as an electrician, Josh Verstraten was ready to branch out from employee to business owner, but he knew running a successful business would require a new set of skills.
From financial stress to financial freedom for Auckland whānau
For Augustine Kopa, studying the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was about creating a better future for her whānau.
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae
Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
