A national hui has called for greater autonomy for the Māori arts.
Last week’s Toi Ora hui in Wellington brought together more than 150 artists and Māori art organisations to wananga and then present their findings to policy makers and ministers.
Eraia Kiel, the chief executive of Rotorua’s Te Puia, the New Zealand Institute of Maori Arts And Crafts, says there was a clear call for equitable funding and autonomy.
“We want our own agency, our own ministry, for Maori to distribute funds out to the rohe,” he says..
Mr Kiel says the Budget’s $34 million dollars for Te Matatini was long overdue – but it’s still only only one sector of the diverse Maori art world.
