From the classroom to the world stage for toi kaiako
From the classrooms of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to the bright lights of New York City, toi kaiako Shawnee Tekii and Jordyn Daniels (Ngāi Tahu) took their creativity to the world stage earlier this year, showcasing their mahi toi across one of the world's most iconic cities.
Shawnee, a Secondary Tertiary programme kaiako based at the Māngere and Waitākere campuses, and Jordyn, a Secondary Tertiary programme kaiako at the Apakura campus, were among the artists selected to take part in NFT NYC 2026, an annual event that brings together artists and creators from around the world.
Shawnee's digital illustration, The City of Tales, captivated passers-by in SoHo, Manhattan as it travelled through the streets on a large LED billboard truck.
“The City of Tales is my interpretation of what it feels like to live in Tāmaki Makaurau. It's all the familiar moments and everyday details we often stop noticing. It's Tāmaki Makaurau as I know and remember it.”
Jordyn showcased multiple mahi toi, with her pieces appearing digitally in SoHo, Manhattan on a billboard along Broadway and displayed at one of New York's premier galleries, Jutta Gallery.
“At the heart of my artwork - Te Aho Manawa, Tuku Iho and The Thread That Binds Us - is the connection that exists beyond what we can see yet has always been there. These works acknowledge our responsibility to share mātauranga with future generations and explore the idea that, while we each walk our own path, we are never truly alone.”
For both kaiako, exhibiting in New York was a surreal and significant milestone, reinforcing that living in Aotearoa is no barrier to global opportunities.
“I want tauira to understand that creativity can be more than something they simply enjoy doing. It can become a skill, a career, a business, a way of communicating who they are, or a way of telling stories that might not otherwise be heard. There is something powerful about our stories remaining distinctly ours while still being able to connect with people on the other side of the world,” says Shawnee.
Jordyn hopes her journey encourages others interested in developing their artistic practice to explore their own potential.
“Come and have a chat. See what we do. The only way to fully understand the impact of studying with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is to experience it for yourself.”
Shawnee and Jordyn's journeys show where creative study can lead. Learn more about toi Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
From left to right: Artist - Jordyn Daniels, Toi by Jordyn, Toi by Shawnee.
Cover image: Shawnee Tekii with her toi.
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