Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Local Māori artists honoured at Te Waka Toi awards

Rotorua Daily Post
30 Nov, 2019 07:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Local artist and stone carver Lewis Gardiner when he opened his own greenstone studio in 2013. Photo / File

Local artist and stone carver Lewis Gardiner when he opened his own greenstone studio in 2013. Photo / File

A number of local Māori artists have been recognised at this year's Te Waka Toi Awards held in Rotorua tonight.

Among those recognised was the late Taupō born actress, writer and director Nancy Brunning who died earlier this month.

The star was awarded the Te Tohu Kē a Te Waka Toi award for significant, positive impact on the development and practice of Ngā Toi Māori.

Brunning was aware of the award before her death.

Artists from around the country overwhelmingly supported the award with fellow actor Cliff Curtis saying "she held in her soul as artists love for humanity and for her people".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"She shared her love through her work and made a profound contribution that will live on. Nga Mihi Aroha ki a ia me tana whanau hoki."

Other award winners on the night was Te Arawa's Wetini Mitai-Ngatai, who was recognised for his outstanding contribution to kapa haka.

Mitai-Ngatai has performed throughout Rotorua for many groups and was awarded the national male leader title at Te Matatini a total of five times.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In 2002, Wetini founded Mitai Maori Village in Rotorua, a Māori cultural performance and tourism attraction at Fairy Springs.

Another Te Arawa award winner was Rim D Paul, who was recognised for his lifetime contribution to the Māori arts.

The 77-year-old Rim D Paul was an important choral leader and has spanned an high-quality career in Māori music.

Finally, Te Arawa's Lewis Gardiner was recognised for fufiling the legacy of Te Māori He Taonga Tuku Iho.

Discover more

Pupils have fun with range of sciences

14 Nov 08:36 PM

David Beck: One cult I don't mind being in

18 Nov 06:00 PM

Ahua Creationz showcases cultural beauty

22 Nov 01:23 AM

The secret to planting a good kūmara?

25 Nov 10:33 PM

Gardiner was regarded as one of the foremost Māori pounamu artists in the country and For almost 25 years Lewis has run his own greenstone studio in Rotorua that is regarded as one of the foremost design studios in the country.

Lewis frequently exhibits internationally as part of residencies and artist exchanges.

Te Waka Toi 2019 Award Recipients

Ngā Tohu Manu Pīrere - Recognising emerging Māori artists
Cian Gardner (Ngāpuhi) - Theatre: Writer, Producer, Performer
Ashley (Hine) Waitai-Dye (Ngāti Kuri) - Tārai Waka, Tā Moko

Te Tohu Toi Kē a te Waka Toi Making a Difference Award
Nancy Brunning (Ngāti Raukawa/Tūhoe) - Theatre: Actor, Writer, Director, Producer

Te Tohu Aroha mō Ngoi Kumeroa Pewhairangi - Award for strengthening te reo Rangatira
Derek Lardelli (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Konohi (Ngai Te Riwai), Ngāti Kaipoho (Ngai Te Aweawe)) - Te Reo, Whaikōrero, Visual Arts, Haka, Tā Moko, Composer

Te Tohu Whakamānawa o Te Matatini - Recognising outstanding contribution to Kapa Haka
Wetini Mitai-Ngatai (Te Arawa, Te Whakatohea) - Kapa Haka

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ngā Tohu ā tā Kingi Ihaka - Recognising lifetime contribution award.
Maureen Robin Lander (Ngāpuhi_ - Multimedia artist, Installation, Rāranga and Academic
Rim D Paul (Te Arawa) - Music: Showbands, Choral
Sonia Armana Snowden (Ngāpuhi) - Rāranga, Whatu, Tukutuku
Allen Wihongi (Ngāpuhi) - Whakairo, Mixed-media
John Klaricich (Ngāpuhi) - Te Reo, Whaikōrero, Literature, photography

Te Tohu o Te Papa Tongarewa Rongomaraeora - outstanding contribution to Ngā Toi Māori
Kura Te Waru Rewiri (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Rangi) - Visual Arts, Academic, Educator

Te Māori Award: Recognising leadership in the development of the Te Māori exhibition
Ihakara (Kara) Puketapu (Te Atiawa)

Manaaki Taonga Award - Recognising the work of a Māori artist who fulfils the legacy of Te Māori 'He Taonga Tuku Iho'
Lewis Gardiner (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, Whanau a Apanui, Ngāi Tahu) - Whakairo

Te Tohu Aroha Mō Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Supreme Award
Rex Homan (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Paoa, Te Atiawa) - Sculptor

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

06 Jul 10:51 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Opinion

Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

06 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

06 Jul 10:51 PM

Information sought about man in green coat and gumboots on Pine Drive, Murupara.

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

06 Jul 05:00 PM
Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

06 Jul 06:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP