Nu’u Newsletter: Issue Four
Editor’s Note
Talofa lava!
Welcome to the fourth issue of Nu’u Newsletter.
I created this weekly publication with the intention of facilitating meaningful connections between Moana communities and creative opportunities for learning, collaboration and cultural nourishment. My hope is that Nu’u Newsletter draws you closer to the people, places and experiences that feed you. We eat better when we’re together.
Please email your Moana arts news to nuunewsletter@gmail.com.
Follow Nu’u Newsletter on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop.
Alofa tele,
Dani Kionasina
xx
See
- NGĀ MATA AUTE, Atarangi Anderson, 30th January - 1st March, Grace, 59 Pitt St, Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa
Grace is pleased to present Ngā Mata Aute, a solo exhibition by Atarangi Anderson (Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngati Hauiti).
Atarangi Anderson is an artist who delves into the intimate relationships of wāhine Māori and aute (Māori bark-cloth). Ngā Mata Aute centres around the presence of mata (eyes), embodying non-linear notions of time present in concepts of onamata (the past) and anamata (the future). Closely attuned to the writings of Hana Burgess, Anderson’s aute attests to the “the eyes of those who have come before us, the eyes of those who have come after us.”
Central to her practice is the relationship between tuakana and teina, encompassing connections between people and trees, fostering a sense of reciprocity and balance.
A text by Thies Vaihu will accompany Ngā Mata Aute.
- Selau Pasege, George Funaki, Jasmine Tuiā, Jimmy Ma’ia’i, 15th February – 5th April
Curated by George Funaki, Selau Pasege offers an intimate glimpse into the richness of Pacific cultural treasures, or measina, and their enduring significance to Pacific communities. At the heart of this exhibition, artists Jasmine Tuiā and Jimmy Ma’ia’i, supported by Funaki’s moving image work, bring together their distinct artistic practices in collaboration, creating a dialogue that explores how Tāmaki Makaurau’s Pacific communities define their identities in a climate of underrepresentation and marginalisation. Selau Pasege celebrates the inherent culture that remains a constant for these communities as they adapt and excel despite these limitations.
Measina encompasses both tangible and intangible heritage—from traditional objects such as tapa, tools, and artifacts to the values, practices, and knowledge passed down through generations. Tuiā, Ma’ia’i, and Funaki breathe contemporary life into these traditions, combining time-honoured Pacific techniques with modern influences to examine current perspectives and experiences.
Selau Pasege invites viewers to reflect on the profound ways heritage shapes us—both as individuals and as members of a collective community.
Read
- Manuali'i by Rex Letoa Paget has made the longlist for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry in this year's Ockham NZ Book Awards.
Listen
- Kātoanga’i ‘o Tā-Vā: Celebrating a Living Legacy of Tā-Vā, Time-Space, 10am - 8pm, 8th February, Mangere Arts Centre
Keynote by Professor Maui-TāVā-He-Ako Dr Tēvita O. Ka’ili, providing the history and development of Tāvāism and the Tāvāist movement.
Open to all, RSVP your attendance to barbara@lagi-maama.com/021 203 2063
Learn
- Sounds of the Moana, An opportunity to learn how to make and play your own Mamapu/Kōauau and Gogo ‘ofe/Karanga Manu, 10am - 5pm, 15th February, Ana Pekapeka studios, Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson, Auckland 0612
- Queer Zinemaking, 11am - 4pm, 9th February, Te Ātea / North Atrium at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Work
- The Spinoff is hiring a part-time project manager for a 10-month maternity cover. Do you love managing client relationships and delivering top-notch campaigns? Apply now!
- Join Craccum as their Visual Arts Editor and shape the visual identity of their 2025 issues! You’ll design their new logo, create illustrations, and collaborate on photography and layout design.
Submit
- Submit your measina/koloa/taonga in Lupe I Vao Ese and be part of an inspiring exhibition that celebrates our culture and identity in Tāmakai Makaurau.
- The Early Career Fund – Toi Tipu Toi Rea is open! (For activities taking place: 7 May 2025
– 7 May 2026), Opens: 27 January 2025, Closes: 1pm, 6 March 2025
- Applications are open for the 2025 Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship. The deadline for applications is the 31st of January.
- Window Gallery is now accepting proposals for 2025. Applications close at 5pm on the 14th of February.
- Basement Theatre’s Winter/Matariki season submissions are now open! Submissions for the Winter/Matariki Season close 9 Feb at 11.59pm.