Latest news with #JuliePaama-Pengelly
NZ Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Difficult economy dashes plans for popular indigenous arts festival
Last year's 'must not miss' festival drew artists from the four winds. 'We have Tahiti, Niue, quite a large Cook Islands contingent, Alaska, which is Tlingitn, one of the indigenous Canadian nations, California indigenous Indian nation from America, Philippines, Tonga, Samoa,' Toi Kiri 2024 creative director and tā moko artist Julie Paama-Pengelly (Ngāi Te Rangi) told Te Ao Māori News at the time. 'I wouldn't miss it. Even if I wasn't into art, I wouldn't miss it. Because where do you get the exposure, the very intimate look into other people's cultures? 'Where do you get that at your doorstep? You'd have to travel, traverse the world to see that.' Postponing Toi Kiri 2025 is a 'strategic move', organisers say. 'By postponing 2025, we are creating the time and space necessary for Toi Kiri to grow, evolve, support, and authentically reflect the diverse indigenous communities it represents on an international level,' festival manager Chontelle Hohaia says. 'This festival has always been about more than just skinmarking, cultural arts, performances, or exhibitions. Cultural arts are a language of their own – they embody expression, connection, storytelling, resilience, and relationships." Paama-Pengelly, the festival chair, says the decision to postpone was difficult. 'Toi Kiri is delivered by a small but deeply committed team. With existing commitments for 2025 and the current economic climate, this decision was not made lightly. 'It reflects our long-term vision: to ensure every edition of the festival is impactful, well-resourced, and meaningful. 'We are confident that with additional time for planning, collaboration, and creativity, Toi Kiri's return in 2026 will be stronger than ever,' says Paama-Pengelly.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Toi Kiri Postponed, Returning In 2026
The organisers of Toi Kiri, a cornerstone celebration of indigenous cultural arts, announce an important update for the festival: Toi Kiri 2025 will be postponed with the next full-scale event scheduled for 2026. After careful consideration, the decision has been made to postpone Toi Kiri until 2026. The current funding environment presents challenges in delivering the high-quality, large-scale event that artists, communities, and audiences have come to expect. Postponing 2025 is a strategic move, designed to foster greater collaboration, enable deeper community engagement, and support sustainable growth. "This festival has always been about more than just skinmarking, cultural arts, performances, or exhibitions. Cultural arts are a language of their own — they embody expression, connection, storytelling, resilience, and relationships," says Festival Manager Chontelle Hohaia. "By postponing 2025, we are creating the time and space necessary for Toi Kiri to grow, evolve, support, and authentically reflect the diverse indigenous communities it represents on an international level." Julie Paama-Pengelly, Chairperson of festival organiser Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust, adds, "Toi Kiri is delivered by a small but deeply committed team. With existing commitments for 2025 and the current economic climate, this decision was not made lightly. It reflects our long-term vision: to ensure every edition of the festival is impactful, well-resourced, and meaningful. We are confident that with additional time for planning, collaboration, and creativity, Toi Kiri's return in 2026 will be stronger than ever." While a major festival will not take place in 2025, a series of smaller events and community-led initiatives — including the long-awaited rangatahi projects — will continue throughout the year. The Toi Kiri team extends its sincere thanks to the many artists, vendors, performers, cultural groups, speakers, suppliers, community members, volunteers, partners, funders, and supporters who continue to champion the festival's kaupapa. Festival dates for 2026 will be announced later this year.
