Whakapapa - 2020
A new direction
– the 2020 strategy for investment in sector development
In 2020, the trust launched a new strategy.
“We wanted to build on the trust’s nearly twenty year legacy as a regional organisation for the creative sector, respond to the evolving nature of Auckland as one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, and contribute to the development of the arts and culture ecosystem that makes Tāmaki Makaurau a region alive with creativity.
The strategic decision we made was to move from supporting individual development and activities through grants, to investing in sector development. We want to build a clearer understanding of the sector’s needs and encourage a strategic and collaborative response to those needs.”
Alongside the launch of the new strategy, the trust rebranded, bringing forward as its primary name, the te reo name, Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi, gifted to us by Sir Hugh Kawharu in 2001. This symbolised the trust’s recognition of toi Māori as the original arts of Tāmaki Makaurau, and its commitment to the Māori arts sector.
Heta Hudson Chair 2020
Commitment to Māori
- supporting the mana motuhake of the Māori arts sector
The trust’s commitment to Māori is a commitment to the mana motuhake of the Māori arts sector in Tāmaki, and to champion Māori arts and the contribution Māori artists make to the arts sector and the wellbeing of all in Tāmaki.
To honour this commitment, a process was started in 2020 by Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi to convene hui with toi Māori practitioners across Tāmaki Makaurau. Under the guidance of our Pou Hononga, Eynon Delamere (Te Whānau Ā Apanui, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rongomai and Whakatōhea) these hui aimed to identify gaps and priorities for capability development. The hui created a foundation for further development of the Toi Māori Network which in 2024 resulted in the launch of Te Manawa.
Te Manawa is ‘a collective ‘for Māori artists, by Māori artists’, grounded in whakapapa, organised by tikanga, and shaped by a collective voice.’
Te Taumata works in partnership with Te Manawa, providing a nurturing space for its growth and development.
Strategy in action
… Covid pandemic, the arts of Moana Oceania, development of sector relationships, supporting sector advocacy…
The initial implementation of the new strategy for Te Taumata took place as the Covid-19 pandemic began to have an impact on Auckland’s arts and arts practitioners. Significant mahi in the year included:
A survey of the sector on the initial impacts of the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown. This data informed sector discussions and advocacy, including sector responses to the Auckland Council emergency budget. This ‘state of the sector’ has continued annually.
Engagement with sector leaders to map the creative ecosystem’s response to COVID-19.
Development of the relationships, networks, and knowledge needed to secure the sector’s long-term sustainability as a major contributor to Auckland’s cultural and economic wellbeing. This included; convening and supporting the Ngā Toi Advocacy Network, an online forum for the sector to connect, share learning and strategise shared priorities for advocacy; research commissioned on the arts of Moana Oceania; development of strategic relationships with Creative New Zealand, the regional arts development agencies, and stakeholder organisations in other associated sectors such as education and philanthropy; supporting the development of a creative sector of a wellbeing resource, Te Whakawhirinaki Kete; the formation of a ‘creative connections network’ of individuals and organisations with diverse range of skills and experience to support our kaupapa.