Te Whare Pātahi
Kimiora Whaanga
28 October - 15 November 2026 | Community Exhibition Space
Kimiora Whaanga - Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe and Waitaha.
With a background in Graphic Design Kimiora’s practice strives to create a relationship with digital mediums and modern technologies while acknowledging the knowledge and whakapapa of her iwi and hapū and the many communities that inform her practice.
Te Whare Pātahi
Te Whare Pātahi is an exhibition that aims to build and expand existing foundational tukutuku patterns and Māori astronomical knowledge to create a visual system. Each piece explores pattern, repetition, dimensions and optical illusions. The work is rooted in Māori knowledge systems and contemporary technologies as tools. By collating these elements the body of work aims to represent the intricate complexities Of space. Within Te Whare Pātahi, Marereotonga is a central whetū that is represented. This whetū is also known as Achernar in Eridanus which is the ninth-brightest whetū in the night sky, a prominent whetū in the Southern sky and a whetū rangatira. Te Whare Pātahi is the whare that holds the essence of peace and is also the abode of Marereotonga. There are three stars in Te Whare Pātahi constellation, two that form the intersections between the maihi and the amo, Ioiowhenua on the left and Whitiwhitiora on the right, and Marereotonga the kōruru of the whare. Te Whare Pātahi was the whare that Rongo obtained peace from and hence the following whakatauki: 'Kia mau ki ngā mātāpono a Te Whare Pātahi' Hold fast to the principles of peace. Marereotonga is a messenger of peace and good will and is said to play a special role in settling feuds and disputes.
Te Tira a Puanga
Te Tira a Puanga are the children and daughters of Rehua and Puanga that dwell near their mother in the sky.
They are also the names of a collection of plants that bloom in the forest to indicate the return of abundance, productiveness, fertility and the warming of the whenua. The three whetū that make up Te Tira a Puanga are Tahumate, Puahou and Pōananga (from left to right) and the plants that these whetū refer to are the parapara tree (Puahou - Pseudopanax arboreus) and its first blooms (Tahumate) and to the large white flowers of the Clematis paniculata from the piki arero plant.
Tautoru
The exhibition also speaks to abundance, productiveness, creativity, artistic work, carving and design with its connection to Tautoru in different seasons and the children of Puanga (Te Tira a Puanga). Tautoru (three stars known in Western astronomy as Orion’s Belt) means three stars suspended together in Māori. Just above
Tautoru are a group of whetū referred as the scabbard of Orion’s Belt or the handle of the pot. These are known as Te Kakau a Maui or Kakau a Rangi or just Te Kakau (the handle). These two make up a constellation called Te Toki a Maui the adze of Maui. The reference here speaks to the time during summer when the constellation is connected to carving, creativity and artistic expression that occurred during summer months. The three whetū that make up Tautoru during this time are Matatoki, Hahauiterangi and Tautoru (from left to right).
During the winter months of May and June Te Toki a Maui is known as Te pewa a Tautoru or Te tuke a Tautoru when Tautoru serves as a perch of a snare to catch birds. This period of the year was an important period for harvesting birds, like kereru, and Tautoru was used as a sign that the birds are in season and ready to harvest. The three whetū that make up Tautoru during this time are Toretore, Ngawhata, and Tautoru (from left to right). This period also leads into Te mātahi o te Tau (The first month of the Māori year) which brings a focus on feasting, acknowledging the dead of the year, gathering, and abundance. At that time of the year Tautoru forms part of the stern of Te Waka o Rangi, the celestial canoe.
About Morrinsville Gallery. Welcome to the Morrinsville Gallery website, We believe we are heart of community, contemporary and fine art in the Matamata-Piako District and eastern Waikato. We are passionate about creating an inclusive and vibrant space for all by displaying an inspiring and diverse programme of continuously changing exhibitions by local and national artists.
We acknowledge mana whenua. "Tēnā koutou ki ngā mana whenua o tēnei rohe. Thank you for welcoming us onto your land and for your enduring role as kaitiaki of this place."
As a non-profit gallery, we rely almost entirely on the generosity of our community, supporters and the selfless contribution of our loyal team of volunteers. We invite you to support our mahi and the artists we present, by making a donation. Your contribution will help us deliver exhibitions, events and opportunities that enrich our region and promote creative practice and supports mental wellbeing. All donations are gratefully received either in-gallery by cash or Eftpos or via online banking to
Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable Trust Account number: 02-0368-0042073-000.
Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.morrinsvillegallery.org.nz/contact-us/ to stay informed about our program. Enquires around exhibiting or volunteering, email info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz.
Subscribe to our newsletter at www.morrinsvillegallery.org.nz/contact-us/ to stay informed about our program, or if you are interested in exhibiting or volunteering, email info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz .