About Haerewa
‘Haerewa’ translates as the ‘first cut’ of the tā moko (tattoo) artist, symbolising the group with cutting-edge activities.
Comprising pre-eminent Māori artists, academics and cultural figures, Haerewa is a voice for Māori artists and Māori art. The group provides cultural advice to the Gallery, helping to raise the profile of Māori in the Gallery and to foster an environment that welcomes and inspires Māori.
Chaired by Elizabeth Ellis, CNZM, from its inception in 1994 until 2021, Haerewa is now chaired by Dr Valance Smith.
History of Haerewa
For the last two decades, Haerewa has shaped the Gallery’s development. Its members have been instrumental in the establishment of the role of Curator, Māori Art (Ngahiraka Mason for 20 years until 2015; Nigel Borell 2015–2020, and now held by Nathan Pōhio).
They also served as esteemed kaumātua (the late Arnold Manaaki Wilson, Fred Graham CNZM, and the late Dr Patu Hohepa KNZM) and kuia (foundation chair, Elizabeth Ellis CNZM, Mere Harrison Lodge).
Haerewa have provided support for major exhibitions of Māori art, including:
- Korurangi (1995)
- Goldie (1997)
- Hotere (1998)
- Pūrangiaho: Seeing Clearly (2001)
- Te Hei Tiki (2005)
- Turuki Turuki! Paneke Paneke! (2008)
- Modern Māori (2011)
- Five Māori Painters (2014)
- The Māori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand (2016)
- Adorned Histories (2016)
- Radical Beginnings (2018)
- Wi Taepa: Retrospective (2018)
- Living Portraits: Mata Raurangi (2019)
- Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art (2020)
In January 2025, Haerewa and the Gallery reaffirmed their partnership agreement for 2025 to 2028, strengthening their shared commitment to advancing Māori art, empowering Māori artists, and ensuring a culturally safe and inclusive space at the Gallery.
Establishing the role of Amorangi
Following a motion from the Chair, and supported by Haerewa members at the hui in March 2025, the role of Amorangi was established for long-serving Haerewa members, with Sir Haare Williams accepting the inaugural appointment. In this esteemed role, he will provide high-level guidance and oversight, offering his wisdom, focus, and care to support Haerewa members as they uphold their responsibilities to Māori artists and the arts with mana and integrity, ensuring a legacy that enriches both today’s generations and those of our mokopuna’s mokopuna.
Māori commissions
Three artworks commissioned from Arnold Manaaki Wilson with Anthony Wilson, Fred Graham, and Lonnie Hutchinson, stand at the Gallery's key thresholds. Former Haerewa member Bernard Makoare contributed as a design consultant during the Gallery’s redevelopment, shaping the ‘Māori dimension’ of the new building.
International representation
Haerewa has represented the Gallery and Māori art internationally. In 2014, members of Haerewa travelled to Berlin, Germany, for the opening of Gottfried Lindauer: The Māori Portraits at Alte Nationalgalerie. In May 2015, representatives travelled to Pilsen, Czech Republic, for the exhibition Gottfried Lindauer: Pilsen Painter of the New Zealand Māori at the Gallery of West Bohemia. The opening ceremony was a traditional kawe mate, the return of the spirit of the deceased to the homeland, in this case Lindauer to his birthplace of Pilsen. In 2017, Haerewa travelled to the de Young Museum, San Francisco, USA, with The Māori Portraits: Gottfried Lindauer’s New Zealand.
Haerewa, from left to right: Emily Karaka, Dr Valance Smith, Lisa Reihana, Brett Graham, Nova Paul, Graham Tipene.
Not pictured: Reuben Friend, Sir Haare Williams.
Haerewa members
Ngāpuhi, Waikato, Ngāti Haina, Ngāti Pākehā
Dr Valance Smith is Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor (Māori Advancement) at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), where he also leads the implementation of its Mātauranga Māori Strategy.
Valance holds a PhD in Māori and Indigenous Development, and is a composer, tutor and performer of kapa haka and modern music. He provides cultural and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) leadership to AUT, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, the corporate sector, and his whānau and wider communities.
His current research includes co-leading a suite of research projects with the National Science Challenges (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment Hīkina Whakatutuki) looking at mātauranga Māori solutions for kauri dieback, and another looking at the relationship between maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar), physical activity and well-being.
Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga a Māhaki; MNZM
A published writer, poet, artist and creator for television and radio, Sir Haare Williams has had a long and distinguished career across multiple fields of endeavour and expertise.
As an expert in te reo Māori, he served as both Dean of Māori Education and Māori Advisor to the Chief Executive at Unitec Institute of Technology. He led a joint venture with the South Seas Film & Television School to train speakers of te reo, and has worked closely with iwi claimant communities, including responsibilities for waka construction and assembly at Waitangi for the 1990 commemorations. Haare has served as cultural advisor for the Mayor of Auckland and is also Amorangi (Māori leader) at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Tūteauru, Ngāi Tūpoto; MNZM
Lisa Reihana is a multi-disciplinary artist who lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. Her practice includes visual arts, working with art galleries and museums, the Māori film sector and tertiary education. Since the 1990s, Lisa has significantly influenced the development of contemporary art and contemporary Māori art in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her art making is driven by a powerful connection to community. Influenced by Indigenous principles, her ambitious and poetically nuanced work disrupts gender, time, power and representational norms. Lisa’s work is exhibited and held in collections nationally and internationally.
Ngāti Maniapoto
Reuben Friend is a Wellington-based Aotearoa New Zealand artist, curator and writer. Friend has curated numerous national and international art projects in Aotearoa New Zealand, Taiwan, Australia and Canada as the Director of Pātaka Art Gallery and Museum in Porirua from 2015-2021, and Curator Māori-Pacific Art at City Gallery Wellington from 2009-2013. Current roles include Co-Chair of the Indigenous Curatorial Collective based in Toronto, Canada; Committee Member of Te Haerewa Māori Advisory Board for Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Art Gallery; and Member for the Wellington Sculpture Trust Arts Advisory Committee. Friend has a degree in Māori Visual Arts from Toimairangi School of Māori Visual Arts at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (2006), and a Masters in Māori Visual Arts from Te Pūtahi a Toi School of Māori Studies at Massey University in Palmerston North (2009).
Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau, Te Māhurehure ki Whatitiri, Ngāpuhi
Nova Paul is a filmmaker, writer, academic and Indigenous rights researcher currently residing in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and working as a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology. Her creative practice of over 20 years explores experimental film history and the medium of 16mm film. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in art history from the University of Otago (1994) and a Master of Arts (First Class Honours) from Auckland University of Technology (2000).
Paul is internationally celebrated with projects focusing on inclusivity and community. Her many films have been shown in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada.
Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu
Graham Tipene is a tā moko (tattoo) artist who has been involved as a consultant and key artist on civic and Auckland Council-led projects throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. His public work brings Māori kaupapa into the built environment of the city, with major projects including the Waterview Tunnel, Victoria Park, Auckland Library and Tirohanga Whānui Bridge in Albany. He has made artwork for Auckland War Memorial Museum, and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.