Maungarongo (Ron) Te Kawa (Ngāti Porou, b.1969 Woodville) is a takatāpui artist, educator, and fashion designer. He has spent the last 20 years exploring his whakapapa and mātauranga Māori through quilts. Depicting imagined scenes and personal memories, Te Kawa’s works meditate on identity, community, spirituality, and creativity.
Kokonga Ngākau includes five quilts made between 2021 and 2023. Rather than the uniform geometric designs often found on quilts, Te Kawa’s compositions feature organic forms, with figures ranging from family members and deities to taniwha and merpeople. The exhibition title, Kokonga Ngākau, comes from the whakataukī ‘He kokonga whare e kitea, he kokonga ngākau e kore e kitea’ (The corners of a house can be seen, but not the corners of the heart). It refers to the unseen inner thoughts and feelings of others—a reminder to treat people with love, care, and respect.
This exhibition will be open to the public from Sunday 16 March, please note there is no opening event for this exhibition. Please join the artist on Saturday 24 May, 1–3pm, for an inspirational hands-on workshop and storytelling session.
Presented in association with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2025.
Opening Hours
- Monday - Sunday 10am - 4.30pm
Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery: Learning Centre
- 420 Titirangi Road
- Auckland 0604
Maungarongo (Ron) Te Kawa (Ngāti Porou, b.1969 Woodville) is a takatāpui artist, educator, and fashion designer. He has spent the last 20 years exploring his whakapapa and mātauranga Māori through quilts. Depicting imagined scenes and personal memories, Te Kawa’s works meditate on identity, community, spirituality, and creativity.
Kokonga Ngākau includes five quilts made between 2021 and 2023. Rather than the uniform geometric designs often found on quilts, Te Kawa’s compositions feature organic forms, with figures ranging from family members and deities to taniwha and merpeople. The exhibition title, Kokonga Ngākau, comes from the whakataukī ‘He kokonga whare e kitea, he kokonga ngākau e kore e kitea’ (The corners of a house can be seen, but not the corners of the heart). It refers to the unseen inner thoughts and feelings of others—a reminder to treat people with love, care, and respect.
This exhibition will be open to the public from Sunday 16 March, please note there is no opening event for this exhibition. Please join the artist on Saturday 24 May, 1–3pm, for an inspirational hands-on workshop and storytelling session.
Presented in association with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2025.
