Ngā Tohu Toi is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of its prestigious awards celebrating excellence and leadership in ngā Toi Māori (Māori arts). These awards honour artists, knowledge holders, and innovators whose mahi enriches our communities and strengthens the future of Māori creative expression.
This year’s recipients will join a distinguished cohort of past award winners, including Ria Hall, Stan Walker, Mabel Wharekawa-Burt, Darcy Nicholas, Joanna Paul, Whirimako Black, Joe Harawira and others.
This year, we celebrate the following outstanding recipients:
- Wi Taepa (Ngāi te Rangi, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue)
- Tuakoi Ohia (Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Āti Awa, Te Arawa, Tainui)
- Justine Murray (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāi Tukairangi, Ngāti Tapu, Ngāti Kahu)
- Regan Balzer (Ngāti Ranginui,Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga, Raukawa, Te Arawa, Apakura)
- Peter Harawira (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi)
- Sarah Tangitu (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Pirirākau, Ngā Tamawhariua)
- Mauria (Tracey) Ngatoko Rahipere (Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui)
- Chloe Reweti (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāi te Ahi)
- Te Karehana Toi aka TEEKS (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui)
- Julie Paama-Pengelly (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tūwhiwhia, Ngāi Tauaiti and Ngāti Tapu)
- Whare Thompson (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngā Puhi)
Ngā Tohu Toi invites everyone to join us in honouring these incredible individuals at our 2025 Awards Celebration:
📅 Thursday 19th June 2025
📍 The Cargo Shed, Tauranga Moana
🕔 From 5:00pm onwards
Enjoy a powerful evening of celebration, live performance, storytelling, and the collective recognition of Māori creative excellence.
🎟️ Tickets are available now here
Tables of six are also available to purchase for you and your roopu.
This is a night not to be missed — a moment to stand in support of our artists and the cultural legacy they continue to shape for generations to come.
Image: Chloe Reweti
