Mahi whakairo at Te Wānanga o Raukawa

I am really enjoying being a full time student at Te Wānanga o Raukawa again, this time learning whakairo (carving).

The last time I was here was back in 2011 when I did most of the Heke Mātauranga Māori.

So far I have completed two whakairo projects as pictured. Working in 3D is an exciting new challenge for me. I love being in a waananga environment again, and the library is one of my favourite workspaces.

I am really enjoying continuing on with my Te Reo Māori studies again too, particularly the mōteatea and karakia components.

Regarding taa moko, I am looking to be setup for tattooing again within the next month or so, here in Ōtaki.

Recent kōwhaiwhai waananga at Takapūwāhia Marae

It was lovely to be with and alongside whānau at our marae recently for our kōwhaiwhai waananga, playing with watercolours and enjoying mahi toi, kotahitanga and whanaungatanga.

I am looking forward to the rest of these waananga toi throughout this year.

LOVE LAND LINEAGE solo exhibition opening soon at Toi Māori Gallery

The most significant solo show of my career to date opens on Thursday 15th May at 5.30pm at the Toi Māori Gallery Wellington CBD. If you have been a supporter of my mahi over the past twenty years, nau mai haere mai.

The kaupapa of this exhibition is on the theme of healing.

Toi as a pathway from te pō ki te ao mārama.

Colour (which is light) as rongoā.

Symbolism and symbolic storytelling as rongoā.

Pūrākau attached to old designs as medicine.

Atua associated with our ancient symbolism and artforms, as unique medicine carriers.

LOVE (AROHA)

Healing through love for ourselves and each other. Love for our artforms, love for our traditions, love for our reo, love for our tūpuna, love for our tikanga. Love for our Mātauranga Māori, love for our Whare Waananga, love for our taiao, love for our rongoā Māori, love for the communities we belong to, love for our atua, love for our whānau, tamariki and mokopuna. 

LAND (WHENUA)

Healing through connection to our lands and through practicing kaitiakitanga of our whenua. Healing from living and being tangata whenua and ahi kaa on our tūrangawaewae. Spending physical time barefoot on our significant places and pockets of land. Healing ourselves and our whānau through occupying and being present at and on our ancestral lands of spiritual importance. Healing through maintaining our lands. Healing through practicing our rangatiratanga from our special whenua and our unique places of belonging.

LINEAGE (WHAKAPAPA)

Healing through our whakapapa. Healing bloodlines. The continuum of lineage from ancestor to offspring and all that entails. Healing through the communities we belong to through our lineages. Healing through the ancestral gifts passed down to us through our whakapapa. Healing through our children and for our children. Healing through remembrance of our divine lineage going directly back to our atua. 

I will have some taa moko special dates available inside of this exhibition for some of my Wellington CBD based clients. More details and exact dates to come soon, or email me on taryn.teuira@gmail.com to reserve one of these limited town spots at Toi Māori Gallery.

Two new 'little prayer' paintings now available 'HE AROHA MUTUNGA' and 'MY REASON FOR LIVING'

I have recently completed two new paintings, now available by emailing me on taryn.teuira@gmail.com. Both of these pieces are signed and dated on the back and measure 25cm by 25cm each.

I am still working on my new ‘LOVE LAND LINEAGE’ exhibition pieces for my solo show opening at Toi Maori Gallery on 15 May 2025 in Wellington CBD.

Upcoming Porirua Art Trail 2025 with Ngati Toa artists

Looking forward to participating in the upcoming Porirua Art Trail alongside our multi-disciplinary Ngati Toa artists, the Ahi Kaa Toi Collective and my immediate family in our newly established Horomona Whanau Collective.

The artforms already included in the Horomona Whanau Collective with my teina and tuakana include taa moko, painting, taaniko, raaranga, whakairo, toi kupu and contemporary object art.

Over the past year or so we have participated as a whanau in several community + art events together and our collaborative whanau toi kaupapa continues to grow, develop and evolve organically and beautifully with our complimentary skill sets, ideas, talents and personalities.

Come and visit us all at both Whitireia Polytech and at Pataka Art + Museum on 8 and 9 March 2025. We will have artistic earrings, taaniko works, bags and scarfs available as well as some original paintings and A4 frameable art prints.

Waitangi Day with Ngati Toa artists at Pataka Art + Museum

Waitangi Day with Ngati Toa artists and the Ahi Kaa Toi Collective at Pataka Art + Museum was alot of fun. Thanks to everyone that supported our artists and made purchases on the day.

Back in Otaki for 2025 waananga life

I am now based back in Otaki once more and i’m excited to also be enrolling to study whakairo (carving) for personal interest and development at Te Wananga o Raukawa for 2025.

I love learning and it’s a privilege to have the chance to study again at this point of my life.

It is also such a blessing to be back involved with my church community at Rangiatea.

Recent mahi kirituhi ki Hongoeka Marae

It was an honour to recently create kirituhi and share my art alongside other Ngati Toa artists with some First Nation indigenous special guests visiting Hongoeka Marae.

'Painting the joy back into life' new painting now available

Happy to have a new original painting in a new fun, colourful, vibrant, floral style now available over on my PAINTINGS page.

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'LOVE, LAND, L,INEAGE' an upcoming solo exhibition at Toi Māori Gallery, Wellington

I am currently working on my upcoming solo exhibition of new paintings.

’Love, land, lineage’ will be my most significant solo exhibition to date and is scheduled to open on 1 May 2025 at the Toi Maori Gallery in Wellington CBD.

New paintings now available

I have recently completed 6 new paintings.

BIG THANKS to everyone that has already bought art from me over the past sixteen or so years.

Recent moko peha puhoro work

I am thrilled to currently be working on two moko peha puhoro for clients in Nelson and Wellington.

We are spreading the work out over time, during several sessions, rather than doing it all in one big sitting lasting several days in a row. I look forward to sharing more pics once the mahi is all complete.

I am happy to offer moko peha puhoro to both male and female clients.

Email me on taryn.teuira@gmail.com if you would like to start your moko peha puhoro journey with me.

Mauriora!

Installation of my art at Labour MP offices in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

Many thanks to Creative Manaaki for organizing the current installation of over 15 of my art works in Paraparaumu, at the offices of female Labour MP’s Terisa Ngobi and Barbara Edmonds.

Most of the art pieces on display are original paintings.

I always appreciate diverse opportunities to exhibit and sell my art works.

My recent tour of Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Perth, Australia

Many thanks to all the beautiful souls that have crossed my path over the recent months of my Australia tour in Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Perth.

It has been especially significant to spend time with close whanau in Australia whom I haven’t seen in a few years due to Covid.

I appreciate you all so much.

Mauriora!

Matariki Whakanuia exhibition at Kiwibank Paraparaumu

I was very happy to have five artworks exhibited recently at the ‘Matariki Whakanuia’ exhibition at Kiwibank Paraparaumu organized by Creative Manaaki.

Many thanks to everyone that made this exhibition happen.

'Waitangi, why tangi, why we tangi' exhibition in Palmerston North and Whakatane

Happy to have one of my original paintings in the ‘WAITANGI, WHY TANGI, WHY WE TANGI’ exhibition that showed in Palmerston North and is soon opening in Whakatane, New Zealand.

Thanks to everyone involved in making this exhibition happen.

Mana Island painting series in progress

It’s lovely to have a view of Mana Island to gaze upon from my private painting studio in Titahi Bay.

Here’s some recent poetry inspired by the many moods of the island I look at every day:

Today I cannot see my island
She is shrouded and cloaked in cloud
Hidden from the view
Of her usual nosey neighbours

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Our island has reappeared
Beaming as usual
Te Tauihu at the back
Beckoning beautifully high and clear
Singing for me to come near

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Every evening
We would watch the sun set
Over Mana Island
Making each other dinners
Infused with love
Taking turns at saying different karakia
Out on the deck
Before we ate
Staring into the horizon
Giving thanks for all the blessings
At our colourful table
Singing praises
And laughing together
Admiring the view
Each day moving forward
The both of us
Into the new

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I am happy to now be working on a new series of small paintings featuring our very special island.

The completed works will be available to purchase online in time.

Recent mahi moko in Porirua, Wellington

It has been very healing and grounding to have been based in Porirua, Wellington, my tribal homeland, for the past four months or so.

Thanks to all my local clients and those that traveled from afar to get tattooed by me in recent months.