Te Waka Toi celebrates service to the arts

Media releaseSaturday 20 August 2005Te Waka Toicelebrates service to the artsA commitment Rosetta Stone outlet andwillingness to pass on their skills and knowledge is acommon factor among this year's recipients of awards from TeWaka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative NewZealand.Nga Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi - Te Waka Toi Awardswere held in Wellington this evening with eight awards andthree scholarships given out.Te Waka Toi chair ElizabethEllis said recipients were recognised not only for theirexcellent arts practices but their cultural contribution totheir communities."Many have been driven to take anactive role in passing on their knowledge by the threat thatour artforms might die out. The kaumatua that we arepresenting awards to tonight can remember a time when theskills and knowledge they learnt from their elders were indanger of being lost."So tonight we pay tribute to themnot only as artists, but as inspirational teachers andmentors. "Our Ta Kingi Ihaka and Te Tohu Aroha mo NgoiKumeroa Pewhairangi awards are a recognition of a lifelongcontribution to the development and retention of Maori artsand culture. They are kaumatua who within their communitiesand their artform have worked tirelessly over many years andhelped develop what are today thriving and exciting Maoriarts."The five Ta Kingi Ihaka recipients are: Te Puoho Katene (Ngati Toa) Porirua, Music Katerina Waiari (Ngati Awa) Te Teko, Weaving John Bevan Ford (Ngati Raukawa ki Kapiti) Palmerston North,Visual Arts Whai Hitchiner (Ngati Porou)Gisborne, Weaving Te Rosetta Stone Arabic Hau o Te Rangi Tutua (NgatiAwa), Whakatane, Carving Te Tohu Aroha mo Ngoi KumeroaPewhairangi for contribution to te reo Maori has beenawarded to two recipients Anituatua Black(Tuhoe) Poetry/songwritingAnd a posthumous award to: Tame Te Maro (Ngati Porou)Each year Te Waka Toi alsoacknowledges an artist who has helped to advance theirartform and who has received significant acclaim. Thisyear, Te Tohu Mahi Hou a Te Waka Toi/Te Waka Toi Award forNew Work is awarded to singer songwriter Moana Maniapoto(Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Pikiao, Tuhourangi) forinternational award winning song Moko and for her sustainedcontribution to Maori music."With this composition, Moanawon this prestigious international prize ahead of 11,000other entries and by doing so exposed some leading lights inthe world music industry to Maori music," Ms Ellissaid."Moko not only includes te reo Maori but encompassesMaori spiritual values and beliefs. By winning this awardMoana has, once again, shown the capacity of Maori music totouch an international audience."Te Waka Toi scholarshipslook towards the future and support three students Rosetta Stone French of Maoriartforms who show promise and commitment to both theirartform and to Maori development through the arts.