Toi Tauranga Art Gallery director Sonya Korohina in front of Samoan artist Pusi Urale's 'O Le Taimi Ua Te'a' acrylic on canvas. Photo / David Hall.
Toi Tauranga Art Gallery is reopening its doors tomorrow after two years of closure and transformation.
At the new Masonic Park entrance, visitors are greeted by the Mauri Stones – a large piece of pounamu and two pieces of obsidian from Tuhūa (Mayor Island), resting in water — an invitation to connect, touch, and begin their journey through art.
Inside, the new gallery store showcases regional artists, designers, and makers.
Gallery director Sonya Korohina said people visiting another city wanted to buy something from the region.
“We’ve championed as much from around the Bay of Plenty as possible.”
The gallery’s redesign has reoriented the entrance to face the city’s emerging cultural precinct.
“When the library opens next year and the museum in 2028, visitors will be able to move seamlessly between them,” Korohina said.
The revamped layout also includes a creativity centre for school programmes and community workshops, a new exhibition space – the Meldrum Gallery – and improved accessibility features such as large-font wall texts, noise-cancelling headphones, and magnifying glasses.
A café, Breadhead, run by Brent and Kate Beamish, has opened beside the gallery, creating what Korohina called “a much more pleasant experience – people can spend time in the gallery, have coffee, and return for more”.
The first exhibition to greet visitors is Whakairo, a large-scale augmented reality installation by Kereama Taepa of Tauranga Moana. Using AR technology, Taepa explores the origins of Māori carving, inspired by the way larvae burrow through wood.
“For our people, carving is about emulating the worm,” Korohina said. “You’ll see those movements come to life through your phone or one of our devices.”
Taepa’s work filled the Craigs Investment Partners Gallery (formerly the Atrium), alongside historical and contemporary pieces including Amo, a carving from the 1884 wharenui Tamapahore. Nearby, exhibitions by Matthew Harris, Tyrone Te Waa, and Kaylene Whiskey extended the cultural inheritance and identity.
Upstairs in the Glausiuss Gallery, Old Friends, curated by Dr Penelope Jackson, revisited Toi Tauranga Art Gallery’s own collection of portraiture. Works by Mark Braunias, Edward Bullmore, Nigel Brown, Vanessa Reed, Robin White, Venetta Miles, Doreen McNeill and Betty Wishart highlighted decades of artistic evolution and personal connection.
Next door, the new Meldrum Gallery debuted with Glimmer, a contemporary jewellery show featuring Vanessa Arthur, Moniek Schrijer, and Australia’s Meredith Turnbull.
“We’re using it because it’s an intimate space, to show design work,” Korohina said. “And in this instance, jewellery.”
The long gallery upstairs hosted Pusi Urale, the 87-year-old Samoan painter known for her vibrant pointillist style, combining colourful Samoan patterns with abstract figures.
Alongside her is her daughter Vaimaila Urale, who reinterprets traditional Samoan patterns using computer keyboard symbols.
At the far end, Land of My Ancestors by Darcy Nicholas spans nearly six decades of artistic practice, featuring drawings, paintings, carvings, and jewellery exploring Māori identity, land, and memory.
Hidden within the building is Closet History, a whimsical art treasure hunt for children and adults by Tania Lewis-Rickard and Tawhai Rickard. Lightboxes and miniature sculptures were tucked inside the walls, creating what Korohina called “enchanting and curious scenes ready to be discovered.”
Toi Tauranga closed in October 2023 for renovations that Korohina said could have taken much longer.
“I’m really grateful we could reopen after two years,” Korohina said. “It’s like rediscovering an old friend. When you reacquaint yourself with an old friend, everything’s familiar and some things feel like they’ve changed as well.”
For locals, the most visible change was the new entrance.
“Some may be a little disoriented,” she said, “but the reorientation means the building functions a lot better”.
The reopening marked the return of the Bay of Plenty’s only publicly funded regional art gallery, a milestone for a city increasingly known for its creative energy.
“We’ve got great spaces like The Incubator and Matter Gallery,” Korohina said, “and Toi Tauranga offers another level.”
Programming at Toi Tauranga spanned 18 to 24 months, designed to balance media, culture, perspectives and artists’ career stages.
“We work with a large matrix,” Korohina said.
“Sometimes visitors will find something that challenges them, and sometimes they’ll find something they love. Over time, there’s something for everyone.”
Accessibility and inclusion were a key focus, with large text, quiet spaces and sensory support.
Visitors could also listen to exhibition audios online while exploring the galleries, and the new creativity centre offered workshops for all ages.
Beyond exhibitions, Toi Tauranga would function as a multipurpose event space for special occasions, product launches, and corporate gatherings.
“We’re really excited to reopen,” Korohina said. “We have a new team, new spaces, and we’ll recalibrate as we go along, to ensure things work well.”
Toi Tauranga Art Gallery will open seven days a week, 10am to 4pm, except some public holidays.