Paora Makes His Mark in Contemporary Māori Arts

A NorthTec student is making his mark on the contemporary Māori arts scene, selling six works in the week prior to his graduation show and having a further half dozen commissioned.

Paora Tiatoa, who has just completed the third and final year of a Bachelor of Applied Arts programme, is showing his work, along with fellow students, at the graduation exhibition at NorthTec’s Geoff Wilson Gallery running until 18 December.

He spent the week prior to the exhibition selling his prints at the three-day Māori Art Market on Wellington’s waterfront, having been invited to take part in the bi-annual event. Paora was delighted to sell half a dozen of his works, and even more pleased to be commissioned to produce a further six prints for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, based in the capital.

He also used the occasion to gain access to three art galleries where he hopes to display his work: the Poi Room in Newmarket, the Pataka Art Museum in Porirua and the Kura Gallery in Taupo. All specialise in contemporary Māori art.

Paora’s current work is based around reinterpreting traditional Māori art, with his series of Tiki prints gaining him success and recognition.

At 42 and having been a qualified house painter for the last 10 years, Paora is delighted to be achieving success through his artworks. He said: “I decided to do the degree because I wanted a change. I had always been good at drawing and painting, and friends and family always suggested I should have a go.

“Since I’ve been at NorthTec I’ve learned a whole lot more. I basically threw out everything I knew as I realised my view of art was very narrow. It’s now wide open. All my tutors have inspired me with their different views, and they’ve all had input into my art practice.”

NorthTec is the Tai Tokerau (Northland) region's largest provider of tertiary education, with campuses and learning centres in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rāwene, Kaikohe and Kaitaia. NorthTec also has over 60 community-based delivery points from Coatesville in rural Rodney to Ngataki in the Far North.

Paora now hopes to make a career out of practising his art, although he also has some house painting work lined up for the immediate future.

Faith McManus, NorthTec arts tutor, said: “It’s so great to see Paora going from being an arts student to a practising artist in the space of just a few days.”

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