In 2023, the Toi Ora national summit took place bringing together Māori artists and arts leaders to discuss key opportunities and challenges to strengthen the Māori arts sector and develop a vision for the future of ngā toi Māori.
Four priorities were identified alongside a range of actions to bolster and sustain Māori arts, culture, and creativity so it can continue to be a source of connection, identity, and pride for our country.
The Toi Ora Wānanga 2023 report provides a collection of insights and actions to better support ngā toi Māori and the Māori and wider arts sector for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Arranged around the themes of Whenua ora (the health and sustainability of the environment), Tangata ora (the wellbeing and sustainability of artists and arts workers), and Toi ora (the wellbeing of ngā toi Māori), priorities from the wānanga included:
-
the development of sustainable careers for Māori artists and arts workers with artists’ work valued through fair remuneration and intergenerational succession plans to build a strong and resilient toi Māori sector.
-
mana motuhake – the devolution of kaitiaki functions and decision-making to Māori to restore, care for, and sustainably use natural resources for ngā toi Māori and authority in funding and programme delivery to meet Māori needs and aspirations.
-
Ngā toi Māori regional centres of connection and excellence to foster community, learning, creativity and enterprise based on mātauranga Māori, with tikanga core to the operational model.
-
The strengthening of Māori arts infrastructure with support for a stand-alone Māori-arts agency.
Other priorities discussed at the wānanga included intellectual property rights and protection especially in relation to Artificial Intelligence, data sovereignty, continued access to ngā toi Māori in formal education settings, artistic and professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers, the role of tangata whenua and the contribution of mātauranga Māori to conservation efforts in Aotearoa and intergenerational approaches to restore the Taiao.
Crown representatives from Government agencies across the arts sector attended the final session of the gathering to receive the recommendations and hear discussions from the wānanga.
‘We’re grateful to have this thinking and recommendations as guidelines for the ongoing Crown-Māori relationship as it relates to ngā toi Māori, particularly as we look to refresh Creative New Zealand’s Te Hā o ngā Toi Māori Arts Strategy 2019-2024’ Paula Carr, Senior Manager, Māori Strategy and Partnerships said.
The Toi Ora Wānanga 2023 report is available on the Toi Ora website