The First Exhibition
Dates: 11 July – 15 October 2026
Hours: 10.00am – 8.00pm weekdays | 10.00am – 4.00pm weekends
Venue: Toi Aro, Wellington
Location: Te Ara Toi Gallery
Admission: Free
About
Featuring works by Hinemoana Baker (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Tupaia ki te Aro, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa, Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tiamana, Ngāi Ingarangi) Moanaroa Keri-Mei Zagrobelna (Te Āti Awa, Whānau-ā-Apanui), Elena Rei (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Sāmoa), Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (Te Ati Awa), Te Rangi Kauia Moriarty (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kahungunu), Taupuruariki Brightwell (Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Huia, Ngati Whakaue, Rongowhakaata, Tahiti).
The First Exhibition marks the launch of Toi Aro Art Centre’s reimagined exhibition space with the Te Ara Toi Gallery. As Toi Aro Art Centre works to reimagine Wellington City Council’s (WCC) role in the art sector of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. For the past 20 Years WCC saw its purpose as a subsidised space for artists to practice, now Toi Aro is a catalyst for growth and development for artists, resources and a collective sector.
Te Ara Toi is translated to the “arts path” or more appropriately “the journey on your arts practice” declares Te Ara Toi as a platform on which artist can showcase their stories within the tapestry of Toi Aro Arts Centre. The First Exhibition showcases works by artists who are at different levels within their practice through a range of modes and forms.
Hinemoana Baker shares her poem Bird Person dedicated to a dear peer with odes to Te Aro from a mana whenua lens. Moanaroa Keri-Mei Zagrobelna expresses her current practice of the Maramataka through taonga, and photography of Elena Rei continues to develop her tukutuku practice through variations of waharua kopito. Te Rangi Kauia draws from waharua kopito to depict Puanga signifying renewal, reflection and connection. Taupuruariki Brightwell embodies mana, wisdom and guidance with Te Mareikura.
In collaboration with kaitui Kōhai Grace and ringatoi Kura Puke, Toi Aro Arts Centre established a cultural narrative reflective of waharua kōpito, tuakana-teina and te taiao. Each level of Toi Aro has its own kaupapa. The ground floor is Te Whare a Nuku, signifying the importance of whenua, whakapapa to whenua and the history of Te Aro. For The First Exhibition mana whenua ki Te Aro Pā artists Hinemoana Baker and Moanaroa Keri-Mei Zagrobelna speak directly to whenua and animals of streams. To transition from Te Whare a Nuku to the tuna īnanga and kokōpu. Travelling up to the mezzanine level is Elena Rei’s Stories of aroha a beacon of guidance into Te wāo o Hineteiwaiwa; we meet the late great master weaver Erenora Puketapu-Hete Paua Kete "woven so that you would never forget how to weave, it could simply be undone and you would learn how to weave". On the upper floor of Toi Aro surrounded by studios named Te Hau Pūanginangi, Te Āniwaniwa, Te Aouri, Te Aotea and other children of Rangi sit comfortably Puanga by Te Rangi Kauia Moriarty and Taupuruariki Brightwell’s Te Māreikura.
Te Ara Toi Gallery is privileged to hosts these taonga and their depth in our whare and we would like to extend thanks to the ringatoi Hinemoana Baker, Moanaroa Keri-Mei Zagrobelna, Elena Rei, Te Rangi Kauia Moriarty, Taupuruariki Brightwell with special acknowledgements to the late Erenora Puketapu-Hetet. We are also grateful for the tautoko from Sheldon Warren, Mike Bridgman and Nat-Lîm during the installation and opening.
Proudly supported by Wellington City Council
Visiting Information
The exhibition is open to the public during gallery hours and welcomes visitors throughout its duration.