Ngāti Porou Artist Recognised for a Lifetime Dedicated to Māori Arts, Tā Moko and Cultural Revival
One of Aotearoa’s most respected Māori artists and cultural leaders has been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours.
Riki Henare Manuel (Ngāti Porou) has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to Māori art, acknowledging more than four decades of dedication to the promotion, protection and advancement of Toi Māori.
For many within the Māori arts community, the honour recognises not only an accomplished artist but also a tireless advocate who has helped nurture generations of Māori creatives and played a significant role in the modern renaissance of traditional Māori art forms.
From carving and tā moko to kapa haka and cultural education, Manuel’s influence has extended across numerous areas of te ao Māori.
A Life Dedicated to Toi Māori
Mr Manuel began his artistic journey in the late 1970s at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua, one of the country’s most important centres for preserving and teaching traditional Māori carving and artistic practices.
The institute has produced many of Aotearoa’s leading Māori artists, and it was here that Manuel laid the foundations for a career that would span more than four decades.
His work quickly became recognised not only for its artistic excellence but for its commitment to maintaining the cultural integrity of Māori artistic traditions.
Building a Home for Māori Artists
In 1984, Manuel established the Toi Mana Māori Gallery in Christchurch.
At a time when opportunities for Māori artists were often limited, the gallery became an important platform for showcasing Māori creativity and connecting artists with wider audiences.
For nearly three decades, the gallery promoted artists from throughout Aotearoa and served as a hub for Māori artistic expression in the South Island.
Operating from the Christchurch Arts Centre until its closure following the Canterbury earthquakes in 2011, Toi Mana Māori helped bring Māori art into public spaces and provided opportunities for emerging artists to develop and exhibit their work.
For many artists, it became more than a gallery.
It became a place of mentorship, learning and cultural connection.
Helping Revive Tā Moko
Among Manuel’s most significant contributions has been his role in the revival of tā moko, the traditional Māori art of permanent body marking.
In 2000 he became a founding member of Te Uhi ā Mataora, the national collective of tā moko artists.
The collective played a critical role in reclaiming and restoring the cultural significance of tā moko after generations of suppression and misunderstanding.
Today tā moko is widely recognised as a powerful expression of Māori identity, whakapapa and cultural pride.
Many within the Māori arts community credit pioneers such as Manuel and his colleagues with helping lead that resurgence.
Their work ensured tā moko was reclaimed as a living cultural practice grounded in tikanga and Māori values.
Championing Authentic Māori Art
In 2002 Manuel became one of the first artists awarded the Toi Iho trademark.
Toi Iho remains the only official trademark that authenticates Māori artists and Māori-made artwork.
The initiative was designed to protect Māori intellectual and cultural property while providing assurance that works carrying the mark were created by Māori artists.
For Manuel, the recognition reflected his long-standing commitment to maintaining authenticity within Māori art and ensuring Māori cultural expressions remained protected.
Carving Stories Across Aotearoa
Throughout his career Manuel has produced a range of significant public commissions and cultural projects.
His work includes:
- A waka commissioned for Christchurch Millennium celebrations.
- Carvings for marae projects throughout both the North and South Islands.
- Contributions to Kaikōura’s cultural art trail.
- Artistic works presented to international dignitaries and leaders.
These commissions have helped bring Māori narratives, symbolism and artistic traditions into public spaces across the country.
For many communities, his work serves as a visible reminder of the enduring presence and contribution of Māori culture.
Supporting Kapa Haka and Rangatahi
Beyond his artistic achievements, Manuel has remained deeply involved in kapa haka and cultural development.
A former regional and national kapa haka performer, he has continued supporting the movement through fundraising initiatives and the creation of uniform designs for schools throughout Christchurch.
His commitment to nurturing young people reflects a wider philosophy that Māori arts are not simply about preserving the past but creating pathways for future generations.
Those who know him describe a leader who has consistently invested time and energy into supporting rangatahi, artists and cultural practitioners.
Recognition for a Cultural Legacy
For Ngāti Porou and the wider Māori arts community, Manuel’s appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit represents recognition of a lifetime spent strengthening Māori identity through creativity.
His contributions have helped ensure Māori artistic traditions remain visible, vibrant and relevant in contemporary Aotearoa.
At a time when Māori arts enjoy unprecedented recognition nationally and internationally, many acknowledge that the foundations for that success were laid by artists such as Manuel who dedicated decades to revitalising traditional practices and creating opportunities for others.
His work demonstrates how art can serve as a bridge between generations, connecting whakapapa, identity and cultural knowledge.
A Legacy That Continues
While the King’s Birthday Honour recognises past achievements, Manuel’s influence continues to be felt through the artists he has mentored, the communities he has supported and the cultural spaces he has helped create.
His life’s work stands as a testament to the power of Toi Māori as a vehicle for cultural survival, storytelling and identity.
For more than 40 years, Riki Manuel has used his skills not only to create art but to strengthen the cultural fabric of Aotearoa.
His appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit is recognition of a legacy carved deeply into the story of modern Māori arts.
Ngā mihi nui ki a Riki Manuel mō tōna mahi nui ki te ao Māori.
