Toka Tū, a person of strength in times of adversity. The artists whose works adorn the walls of Wairau Māori Art Gallery have been at the forefront of moulding a new aesthetic that integrates the deep visual traditions of Te Ao Māori with a colour palette of mediums and current issues and narratives that are descriptive of our contemporary world.

They have pushed boundaries and navigated challenges from the mainstream artworld and traversed new ground from traditionalist Māori artforms that bind their mahi to the whenua to illustrate a rich cultural landscape that is Aotearoa.

Ngā iwi o te Taitokerau are transient navigators, descended from explorers and fierce home people who extend manaakitanga with open arms to those who enter our spaces.

Welcoming the influence of new materials and tools, alternative perspectives and the adaptability to integrate concepts that create meaning into our world.

We welcome this exhibition to the north and pay tribute to this carefully selected group of heroes, an opportunity to honour their work and the lifelong commitment they have made; may the gentle caress and lapping tides of new generations of artists continue to be inspired by these trailblazers.

Toka Tū, he tangata whai kaha ki ngā wā pōkiki ki te raruraru. Ko ngā tāngata ko a rātou toi ka whakaatamai i ngā pātū o Te Huarewa Toi Wairau, kua roa rātou ki te haputa hangarewa kōaro i te rerehua hou ka whakakotahi tikanga ā kanohi hōhonu o Te Ao Māori ki tētahi kōwhiritanga tae kauwaka me ngā take ōnaianei me ngā kōrero ka whakatairangi i tō tātou ao hurihuri. Nā rātou i kopana ngā roherohenga me te whakatere i ngā taki mai i te aotoi matua, anō kua takahitia te whenua hou mai i ngā āhuatanga toi Māori tūturu ka tuitui i ō rātou mahi ki te whenua hei whakaatū i tētahi whakatakotoranga ahurea rangatira, ko Aotearoa rā.

Ko ngā iwi o Te Taitokerau he kaiwhakatere rangitahi, taiheke noa mai i ngā kaitotoro me ngā tāngata whenua wawana ka tohatoha manaakitanga me ngā ringaringa puaki ki ērā ka tomo mai ki o tātou wāhi. E whakatau ana i te whakaaweawe o ngā rawa me ngā taputapu hou, he tirohanga kē atu me te urutaunga hei whakakotahi tūāhuatanga ka hangahanga tikanga ki roto i o tātou ao.

Ka whakatauria e tātou tēnei whakaatūranga ki Te Taitokerau me te whakanui i tēnei roopū tāngata toa kua āta kohikohia, he whakapuakitanga hei whakanui i a rātou mahi me te manawanui ā taumanu kua whakamanatia e rātou; mā te mirimiri ngāwari me ngā tai mitimiti o ngā tairea ringa toi hou e whakaihiihi haere noa i aua kaitiwhiri.