Ria Hall, Tauranga Moana wāhine toa, singer-songwriter, producer, and political candidate, curated the programme for 2025. Photo / Justin Aitken
Ria Hall, Tauranga Moana wāhine toa, singer-songwriter, producer, and political candidate, curated the programme for 2025. Photo / Justin Aitken
New Zealand’s biggest national arts conference has been held in Tauranga for the first time, bringing together more than 300 creative leaders.
Nui te Kōrero, now in its 15th year, was hosted in partnership withTauranga Moana iwi at Mercury Baypark on September 8 to 10.
The 2025 theme— Kia kotahi te tū: Standing together for the arts — called for unity (kotahitanga) as the sector tackled challenges and looked toward new opportunities.
The Creative New Zealand-led conference featured speakers and panel discussions that explored equity and inclusion, accessibility, emerging technologies, and creative economies.
“That’s something we believe is a strong role the arts play in leading the way, making sure New Zealand is a place for everybody to be heard, seen, and celebrated.”
She said that the size, scale, and development of the Tauranga region meant it had a “real thirst” to show its identity.
“I think it’s a very dynamic place, and that makes for great creativity.”
“That’s part of what we’re here talking about, that essentialness of the arts. We’re not a nice-to-have. We’re a must-have, we make a difference.”
Nui te Kōrero was hosted in partnership with ngā iwi o Tauranga Moana at Mercury Baypark on September 8 to 10. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
The 2025 programme was curated by Ria Hall, Tauranga Moana wāhine toa, singer-songwriter, producer, and former mayoral candidate.
Hall said having the conference on her home soil was “really important” for the region’s voice to be heard at a national level.
“It means a lot to be able to host from the perspective of Tauranga Moana, and the cool thing is that there are lots of Tauranga Moana voices peppered throughout.”
She said the arts within communities in Tauranga were strong and thriving.
“The voice of the arts is prophecy. We are the seers, we are the people that see things before other people do, and we react to that through the creation of our art.”
Hall said artists were pivotal in the shaping, creation and pulling together of the nation.
“We need to be at the forefront of everything that goes on in this country.”
From Creative New Zealand: Paula Carr (left), senior manager for Māori strategy and partnership; Gretchen La Roche, chief executive; and Claire Murdoch, senior manager of arts development services. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Creative NZ senior manager for Māori strategy and partnership, Paula Carr, said they heard a real need for arts conversations to be brought to Tauranga".
Carr said the conference had built on previous years and she thought Nui te Kōrero participants would keep the arts conversation alive in Tauranga.
“They’re part of a community of leaders who want to work together to problem-solve some of the challenges at the regional level.”
Senior manager of arts development services at Creative NZ, Claire Murdoch, said some of the “obvious” challenges were the importance of telling a story in a bigger, stronger and joined-up way.
“Artists are cutting-edge creatives, and they intersect with technological challenges and disruption; with audience and demographic changes; with financial challenges and opportunities represented by iwi.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
