Our journey, our passion, our heritage
Welcome to Mokoia Art Studio, where creativity flourishes and Māori heritage comes alive. Discover our story, our commitment to excellence, and how we empower learners to achieve their artistic potential. Join us in preserving and sharing the rich traditions of Toi Tukuiho.
Our unique story and inspiration
At Mokoia Art Studio, we value learners who want to develop ingenuity and perseverance. Ahakoa te Toi Tukuiho, he huia nā te Rangatira. As multi-media artists, our mahi toi facilitators are ready to teach you the skills and disciplines that will catapult you into a lifelong journey of Heritage Arts excellence. Using accelerated learning techniques, you will be amazed at what you will be able to achieve if you apply yourself unconditionally. We are inspired by the rich tapestry of Māori heritage and driven by a desire to share its beauty and depth with the world.
Empowering our community through art
By offering whakairo carving, tukutuku lattice panelling, raranga weaving, tāniko / whatu fibre and textile weaving, kōtuhituhi graphic designing and tāmoko Māori tattooing, Mokoia Art Studio is setting the bar high by delivering training in all of the Toi Tukuiho Heritage Artforms. We plan to roll out core generic te reo toi as part of the induction phase, at the beginning of your journey with us. Workshop induction includes our Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) modules and Tools, Care & Maintenance modules. These will prepare you for entering a particular school of mātauranga toi, ensuring learner safety and preparedness is our foremost concern. Our key objective is that all those who engage in our delivery programmes will self-identify their personal pathway plan of learning, successfully navigate their way through to the end and eventually attain the skills and knowledge to become a teacher of these arts. Our train-the-trainers model awaits those who show passion to succeed.
Our guiding beliefs and values
Ko te toi whakairo, he mana tangata. Where there is artistic excellence, there is human dignity. This foundational principle guides everything we do at Mokoia Art Studio. Our core beliefs and values are Māori language based, incorporating tikanga code of ethics / tukanga code of practice, and toi competency-based excellence. We believe in fostering an environment where artistic expression is valued, cultural integrity is upheld, and every learner can find their mana through the mastery of these heritage arts. We are committed to nurturing talent and preserving the legacy of Toi Tukuiho for future generations.
"Mokoia Art Studio has not only taught me incredible artistic skills but also connected me deeply with my heritage. It's truly transformative!"
Aroha Ngata