This piece talks about the ever-changing world and how our ability to adapt has helped us to survive. There is a delicate balance between keeping traditions the same and creating new ones and it is this balance that has been tested over the last year with the global covid19 pandemic.

The ways these differences between old and new traditions have been acknowledged in this piece is through the contrast of traditional pencil drawing techniques and their creation and display in a digital form, the 12 frames per second animation in the stars vs the 24 frames per second animation in the eyes, and lastly the evolution of art from an all analogue, physical landscape to a now digital frontier with the likes of digital collectibles known as NFT's. This video is exactly 1864 frames long which is the year that Tamarau Waiari went to battle at Orakau and is his connection to the Waikato region, Kiingitanga.

This piece aims to comment on our ability to be innovative with our vast knowledge of the past but also our curiosity to look towards the future.

Find more of Te Haunui’s work at: https://www.tehaunuiart.com/tehaunuiart

Huhana (Susan) Hunt was a daughter of Riripeti Kaipainoa, one of the renowned ‘songbirds’ from the Horouta Waka. Huhana Johnson settled in Rotorua, marrying Thomas Hunt. Huhana, her daughter Ellen (my great grandmother) and the well-known guide Rangi became the first registered guides of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village. The business of guiding and tourism follows a community-driven Māori approach. This approach strengthens the local economy and supports the maintenance and continual refinement of customary Māori artforms, practices and knowledge of the region.

Find more of Regan’s work at https://www.reganbalzer.com/

Luke Lunjevich is my Pāpā. The only one remaining of 12 children born to Elizabeth Waru and Marijan Lunjevich. At 85 years young, he’s a beloved koro and great-koro many times over. Despite the onset of dementia his recall of Herekino where he grew up, his siblings and his parents remain the clearest in his head and his heart. Dad is the direct thread from myself to my tupuna, he and his stories are a taonga to our whānau.

Find more of Michelle’s work at https://www.michelleestallart.com/

The mana of Rongomaiwahine is well-known throughout Te Ao Māori and talk of her beauty and leadership of her people spread around the motu. Her descendants from her relationship with the equally prominent leader Kahungunu populated most of Wairoa, Hawkes Bay to the Wairarapa. This included her grandson, my ancestor Rakaipaaka, who our iwi Ngāti Rakaipaaka are named after. Having such a strong line of wāhine in my whakapapa is something I want to ensure my whānau remember and share.

Find more of Tessa’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/toibytessa/

I have chosen my grandad, Tuwhai Tukiri as my tupuna. I have chosen to use an existing photograph of my grandad taken when he was a student at Te Aute College. I have then overlaid a self-portrait of myself onto his photo. I’m dressed like him. This represents my grandad with me today even though he has passed. I see the layers of whakapapa within my photo. Not only that, but if a photo was to lie on a photo for a long time I would see the changing times meld together to form a view that unites the reanga.

Find more of Cornell’s work at: http://www.cornelltukiri.com/

I have chosen Hotuwaipara as my tupuna wahine to connect with through my artwork. She is the first wife of Whātonga, and mother of Taraika. Tangata Whenua – Pao AKE – Korowai Ake – Pātere She was graceful, beautiful, knowledgeable and was a woman of high rank. Connecting to her through performance I have used my knowledge with Tahitian dance, incorporating that into my performance to represent her grace and knowledge with poi roa. My poutama represents her Mana as a high ranked wahine. I show my connection by whakapapa and pepeha to Hotuwaipara through my Korowai that I have woven out of natural materials. My two compositions link to Hotuwaipara through the stories I sing within the performance and the korowai as well as composition in general. “He Tangi mō Wakanui” is a waiata tangi she composed for her mokopuna Wakanui who sadly passed away by drowning in Te Moana o Raukawa (Cooks Straight)

Find more of Faith’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/bbeezxo/

To understand my mahi toi, one must firstly understand my kōrero.

I am Ngāti Ruanui. I am Pakeha. I am 24 and a student studying allegorical architecture.

I see my tūpuna through the lens of who I am, and who I will always be.

My work is a representation of my father’s sister, Waatara Black. Waatara was a prevalent Māori activist who stood alongside others upon confiscated and unreturned lands in fierce protest for the rights of Māori sovereignty. This included at Bastion Point, the then Raglan Golf Course and many other significant cultural landmarks. She also fought for the reclaimed ancestral land in the Awhitu Peninsula, where her grandmother was born. She helped form a kaitiaki trust and continued her educational and environmental dedication. I am honouring her vital achievements.

Find more of Michelle’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/holey.mosaics/

Rawinia Manukau is my great great great grandmother and is the reason I came home to New Zealand. Rawinia was born in Waiuku in the mid 1800’s where she married Henry Dunbar Johnson (an Englishman) and they had eight children. She was Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Tamaterā. Since coming home, I have met so many whānau through whakapapa. Rawinia is always the focal point of conversation and the love we share for her. She continues to connect us all.

Check out more of Angela’s work at https://angelamoonart.com/

Ko Kataraina Poi toku ingoa, he uri no Rongowhakaata me Ngati Porou.

I currently reside in Perth, Western Australia.

Even though I live away from my Maunga, Awa and Iwi my location will not define the mahi I do.

Like a spider I will build my whare tuktuku wherever I go.

My hope for the future is to inspire and encourage ngai-māori to start their journey of self-discovery through Mahi Toi.

Follow Kataraina’s journey at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kataaniko & Instagram: @Kataaniko

This portrait is a representation of my Nana with her nephew. I wanted to mirror the story of many women walking into their future. This is a moment in history where fashion and dreams of future choices now weave part of today’s social environment. The weaving together of past and future is seen with the swipe of my fingerprint into her dress. This is a story of what was sadly lost from many in my whanau and what was gained.

Find more of Katrina’s work at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrinariversartist/ & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinariversartist/

I started portrait painting and photography in 2015. I entered both the Titirangi Community Arts Council Emerging Artist Award and the Adam Portraiture Award, winning finalist placings in both and the People’s Choice in the Adam Award. I reside in Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty but my roots are Ngā Puhi from the Hokianga in the far north. My Hapu – Hi Kutu. Marae – Matai Aranui. Mountain – Te Ramaroa. River – Moana Whirinaki. Canoe – Puhimoana Ariki.

This portrait is of my great-grandfather (Papa) Hudson Pomare Fergusson. He lived on our ancestral land ‘Opara’ close to Rawene in the far north and remains a figure of our heritage and maoritanga to this day. His great-grandfather was a paramount chief ‘Taku terewhare’ and we are extremely lucky as a family that Papa’s father was a writer and captured all our lineage and Hokianga/family history in hand-sewn books that we as a family donated to the Alexander Turnbull library for future generations to share.

‘Kia mau ki to maoritanga.’

You can find more of Terry’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/thebushmansson/ and https://www.facebook.com/The-Bushmans-Son-Terry-Fergusson-938875532802193/

I am Hollie Tawhiao, from Kirikiriroa. I whakapapa to Maurea Marae in Rangiriri and Te Kotahitanga Marae in Te Kohanga through my koro Tōmairangi and my father Tapaue. He taught me toi whakairo and a love for art. I am Ngaati Tiipa.

Rangiaho was the daughter of Te Muunu Waitai of Ngāti Hikairo, he fell at Waiari and rests there. Her first marriage was brief, to a man named Ahurei. Her next was to a man called Ngahoro of Ngāti Puhiawe which she called ‘a marriage of affection’. She later left him and moved to Motakotako before being fetched to return to Kāwhia where Kiingi Taawhiao asked for her as a wife. Two of her kin refused the marriage but one agreed and she was sent away with him. They were married a little later in 1872. She was also later married to Rawiri Puhata of Ngāti Paoa and lived with him at Waiheke.

Taawhiao and Rangiaho had Pokaia and I am from this line.

Without this competition, I may never have sought this information. Ngā mihi nui for the opportunity.

You can find more of Hollie’s work at: https://hollietawhiao.com/

Since 2019, Rudi and I have held three joint exhibitions at Vunilagi Vou, Corban Estate Art Gallery and Auckland International Gallery. Together we have over twenty years of experience in textiles, bronze foundry work and related craft disciplines. We have been crocheting together for the past two years and have created a contemporary take on whakairo and crochet.

My cherished grandmother left an enduring legacy of aroha which covers and guides us still. We are close to her, wrapped deep in her korowai. We hear her heart, her warm and loving voice echo in our wairua to walk strong and tall as Māori, knowing we are loved and supported. Our pou Rangatira is our love letter to my beautiful nana, to celebrate and honour all that she was and still is today, for me, and for our whanau.

Find more of Melissa & Rudi’s work at: https://www.lissycole.com/

Pictured are my precious tupuna and my whakapapa where my Māori blood line comes from. My ancestors have always been part of this land. My grandmother Susanne, who I am very close to, shares stories from our past. We spend lots of whanau time together in Kaikoura. I surf below our marae that looks out over the waves of Mangamanu. My artworks show my strong connection and sense of belonging to this place, which I’ve always felt. The photographic images sit transparently over a drypoint etching of lush native plants from my ancestral home.