Honorary doctorate for Hastings teacher Sandy Adsett

Artist Sandy Adsett who will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts at Massey University graduation ceremonies in Palmerston North today. Photo / File

After half a century dedicated to furthering Māori visual arts, a Hastings man is to be recognised with a honorary doctorate.

Sandy Adsett will today be conferred with an honorary doctorate at Palmerston North, 12 years after graduating with a Master of Māori Visual Arts (MMVA) from Massey University in 2006.

Trained as an arts specialist for the Department of Education's Advisory service, he was involved in the development of a new focus on Māori art that was introduced into the 1961 schools' art syllabus.

In 1993 he was appointed principal tutor at Tairawhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne, developing a wananga approach for a more contemporary style of Māori arts programme for Toihoukura School of Māori Visual Arts.

He returned to his Ngati Kahungunu roots in 2002, setting up the Toimairangi School of Māori Visual Culture within Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Hastings.

Described as a true exponent of merging the traditional with contemporary overlays, he is particularly influenced by the labyrinth-like qualities of kowhaiwhai – rafter patterns, with his intricate layers of flat acrylic on board immediately recognisable to arts enthusiasts.

Mr Adsett was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to art in 2005 – the year before his own MMVA graduation from Massey University.

Mr Adsett sees the honorary doctorate in Fine Arts as recognition to the many who supported him in his work and studies.

"To me the doctorate also shows that Massey University positively acknowledges the importance of cultural arts identity in Aotearoa by offering programmes like the Master of Māori Visual Arts, one of our highest forms of achievement in Māori visual art. I respect that."