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Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Awards 2021-2023

• New Zealand Portrait Gallery 28 May 2021–15 Aug 2021
• Manukau Museum 30 Oct 2021–20 Mar 2022
• Otago Museum 13 Jun–22 Jan 2023
• TBA Feb-May 2023

I wasn’t planning to enter the Kiingi Tūheita portraiture awards. My friend noticed that the NZ portrait gallery had shared a post of me in front of a tiki painting on their Instagram page. When she saw this, she told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to submit an entry. Not being a portrait artist, I hesitated at the thought and with only two weeks to enter, didn’t think this would be possible. However, magic happened and I created this work to honour my great-great-great grandmother, Rawinia Manukau. I had no expectation to be selected, however a few weeks later I had a message of congratulations on my phone and my work had been selected as a finalist.

It has been such an honour to be part of this exhibition and meet so many like minded artists. Our tupuna (ancestors) brought us all into the same space to share our families, our stories and connections.