E Tu Ngahere

E tū ana te ngahere i runga i te mana o te kōtahitanga. In the forest, trees interlock their roots beneath the soil, creating a resilient network that can withstand strong weather. This is the wisdom our ancestors observed that we honor in our Puanga-Matariki celebration theme ‘E Tu Ngahere.’ Just as the ngahere thrives through diversity—where kauri, rimu, tōtara, and countless others each contribute their unique strengths—so too must our community interweave our diverse talents and perspectives. When we strengthen our whanaungatanga, these connections become our foundation, allowing us to stand tall, unwavering and determined against life’s challenges. The forest teaches us that true resilience comes not from standing alone, but from standing together.

The exhibition will feature Māori and local artists and will take guidance from our theme. It will provide economic, social and reputational benefits to the artists involved, and we also acknowledge the transformative effect creating art can have for people’s emotional and spiritual health. The exhibition will also benefit our community who can visit, consume, be inspired by and purchase authentic and local arts works. The opening will be guided by tikanga Maori and local kaumatua (Te Parawhau me Ngati Wai).