Dance Development Residency 2025 – Call for Applications
Nov
26
to 25 Feb
residency

Dance Development Residency 2025 – Call for Applications

This opportunity is open to one Wellington based choreographer who will receive 25hrs a week for 5 weeks in the Toi Pōneke Dance Studio to develop a new dance theatre work. You will work alongside an emerging producer and a cast/ crew of up to 3. We recommend your cast/crew could be made up of 2 dancers and a videographer/photographer to help document the work. The choreographer and crew will receive a stipend to rehearse and will present to an ‘industry only’ showing at the end of the residency. The choreographer will also have access to a paid mentor. (A choreographer, Dramaturg or Director.)

View Event →
Emerging Producer Residency 2025 - Call for applications
Nov
26
to 25 Feb
residency

Emerging Producer Residency 2025 - Call for applications

This is a 6-week opportunity for a Wellington based emerging producer to work alongside a Wellington choreographer, a cast and crew (of up to 3), and a producer mentor to produce a development season of a new dance theatre work. You will receive a stipend for the 6 weeks.

Over the 6 weeks; the emerging producer will be working with their mentor to prepare a funding application for this new dance theatre work.

View Event →
Bent
Jan
18
to 14 Feb
exhibition

Bent

A team of local creatives from Wellington's zine scene have created illustrated portraits, historical protest art, photography, fanart and writing for BENT - a new collaborative zine series looking at our city’s subcultural and queer communities. The exhibition shows off their work in a collection of over fifty risograph-printed pieces.

View Event →
Ua Tafa Mai Ata
Oct
19
to 15 Nov
exhibition

Ua Tafa Mai Ata

Artist Liana Leiataua explores themes of identity, memory and symbolism in an upcoming exhibition that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Dawn Raids. Ua Tafa Mai Ata is a visual response that acknowledges the ongoing and lived experiences that Pacific communities continue to be impacted by the events that occurred in 1974-1976. Through collaboration with Pasifika youth and aiga, the exhibition seeks to create a path towards healing, reclamation, peace, and restoration of the mana for future generations to come.

View Event →
Artist’s Talk
Sept
21
1:00 pm13:00
artist's talk

Artist’s Talk

Join artists Rosalie Koko, Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds and Aroha Mattchit-Millar in a talk delving deeper into the thinking behind the works in the exhibition Whetuurangitia, moe mai raa. Facilitated by curator Israel Randell this talk will provide a space for artists to talk to their works and larger artist practices. 

View Event →
Whetuurangitia, moe mai raa
Sept
21
to 11 Oct
exhibition, Te Wiki o Te Reo

Whetuurangitia, moe mai raa

When faced with the fear of losing our whakapapa, the question remains: how do we maintain hope in humanity in the face of devastating circumstances?

Whetuurangitia is the transformation from tangata to tipuna by way of stars, responding to current crises Aroha Matchitt-Millar, Rosalie Koko and Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds come together to process the unbearable weight of grief for those in Palestine.

View Event →
Story Time with The Tiwhas
Sept
15
11:30 am11:30
Te Wiki o Te Reo

Story Time with The Tiwhas

Story time with The Tiwhas! invites anyone and everyone to Toi Pōneke for an expressive afternoon to start off Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. Led by queens Dame Jthan and Tina Coco Couture, Story Time with the Tiwhas! will bring a great sense of energy and passion to deliver tantalizing stories in Te Reo to an open, friendly space. Toi Pōneke Arts Centre invites audiences to dress to the nines, express yourself, bring your all!

View Event →
Message to a stranger
Aug
17
to 13 Sept
exhibition

Message to a stranger

Message To a Stranger, is an ongoing body of work combining ephemeral electronic modern communication with stone cutting, which is traditional, slow and enduring. This work playfully explores how these messages are sent, hiding them in urban and natural environments. Visitors can interact with the work, creating and displaying rubbings.

View Event →
Te Aka Tawhito – Te Reo Māori Season
Jul
19
2:00 pm14:00
performance

Te Aka Tawhito – Te Reo Māori Season

Each year, Taki Rua presents highly engaging and meaningful children's theatre show performed completely in te reo Māori, to thousands of school-children and people of all ages throughout Aotearoa. These shows are ideal for te reo Māori learners of all ages. Bring your whānau. Free to attend but numbers strictly limited so bookings essential.

View Event →
2024 Visual Artist in residence announcement
Jul
15
to 15 Aug
residency

2024 Visual Artist in residence announcement

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is proud to announce Mitchell Manual as our 2024 Visual Artist in Residence.

Mitchell Manuel is a digital artist of Cook Island Māori (Ngāti Toora, Ngāti Apai, Ngāti Taraare) Tahitian, Scottish (clan Brown/Broun) and Portuguese descent. He was born and raised in Tāmaki-Makaurau Auckland, and now lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Manuel is an innovative, multi-talented creative with a background in film and television (actor, script writer, Gofta award winner), digital textile design and fashion. 

View Event →
2024 Sonic Artist in Residence Announcement
Jul
8
to 8 Aug
residency

2024 Sonic Artist in Residence Announcement

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and Victoria University’s New Zealand School of Music —Te Kōkī (NZSM) are delighted to announce Kieran Monaghan as the 2024 Creative New Zealand/NZSM/ Toi Pōneke Sonic Artist-in -Residence.

Kieran Monaghan (he/him) is predominantly, and persistently, a drummer and percussionist of found sounds. He calls Te Whanganui-a-Tara /Wellington home. His first crude musical steps were in the late 80’s, playing drums in southern punk rock bands.

View Event →
Korero Mai with Liz Mellish
Jun
27
5:00 pm17:00
event, supported project

Korero Mai with Liz Mellish

Experience an enlightening evening with Liz Mellish MNZM, a distinguished Māori business leader and advisor, at "Korero Mai: An Evening with Liz Mellish" hosted at the prestigious Hannah Playhouse. Delve into the rich tapestry of Te Whanganui-a-Tara's landscape through the lens of indigenous leadership with Liz Mellish, whose expertise spans sustainable economic development, Māori and Indigenous economic empowerment, and strategic negotiation. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a revered figure in both cultural and commercial spheres.

View Event →
Ngā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga
Jun
27
to 31 Aug

Ngā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga

The WAITUHI public art project takes place every year. Māori artists from across the Wellington region are invited to submit designs for flags that will be raised on the 8 flag poles that face Whairepo Lagoon. Flag designs respond to this prominent site on the waterfront and to Matariki as a time to come together, to reflect and remember, to farewell the past year and welcome in the new.   

 This year, local artist, Hemi McGregor (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe), Senior Lecturer, Whiti o Rehua School of Art, Massey University has designed the flag series, titled Ngā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga – The food supplies of Matariki, scooped up. 

View Event →
Pū Rākau mataono ara toi
Jun
27
to 27 Jul

Pū Rākau mataono ara toi

 
 

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre in partnership with Johnson Witehira and James Prier present the Pū Rākau mataono ara toi. Explore Pōneke and celebrate Matariki Puanga with us. At several locations around Wellington Central and Te Aro awaits a special VR experience like no other. Scan the QR code install the app that brings these mataono and their pū rākau alive.

 
 

Johnson Witehira (Ngāti Hinekura, Ngāi Tūteauru) & James Prier of PAKU DESIGN

The aim of Pū Rākau blocks is simple, to make learning the Māori alphabet and stories enjoyable and engaging for Tamariki and whanau. The designers have applied Mātauranga Māori blended with augmented reality, bringing Māori and Aotearoa design into the future.

The blocks are a beautiful representation of each Atua but when stacked and scanned in the digital world with the free companion app, augmented reality brings the atua to life with elements that reinforce their story and character. The different atua stories can overlap and interact.

 
 

1 - Tahiwi

113 The Terrace, Wellington Central
Tāne/Tangaroa
Hinetītama/Tāwhirimātea

2 - Te Wharewaka

1 Taranaki Street, Wellington Central
Niwāreka/Rongomatāne

3 - Circa Theatre

2 Taranaki Street, Wellington Central
Tangaroa/Hineteiwaiwa

4 - Te Wāhi Āwhina

117 Manners Street, te Aro
Hinetītama / Tāwhirimātea

5 - Te Whakaturanga o Te Aro Pā

115 Manners Street, Te Aro
Tāne / Hineraukatauri
Whiro / Hineahuone

6 - Toi Pōneke Arts Centre

61 Able Smith Street, Te Aro
Tūmatauenga / Hineteuira

Matariki Puanga 2024

June 27 - August 9

Check out the line up Toi Pōneke have to celebrate Matariki Puanga.

 
 
View Event →