The expansion of Tautai activities during thepast year has led to consideration of how tomore effectively handle the diversity of rolesand available resources. Arts Manager, ItaniaNikolao, drawing on her experience as the solefulltime employee of Tautai for the last twelvemonths, provided trustees with a proposal for a changed management and operationsstructure for this year.

The proposal was welcomed and the Boardhas adopted it for 2004 as it will :

• strengthen the ability to deliver moreopportunities to Tautai member artists

• give flexibility in providing the Tautaiprogrammes and daily operations

• use the wide background, skills andemployment diversity within Tautai

• retain the knowledge and involvement ofthe current Tautai Arts Manager

Itania Nikolao is continuing in the role of TautaiManager on a contract basis in conjunctionwith her other consultant work. Christina AhLing has been employed as the TautaiAdministrator and will be based part time in theTautai office, and Christina Jeffery has beenappointed to the Tautai Communications role.

The various Tautai Events during the year willbe organised by people contracted as managerfor each of the specific activities. The first of

these events under this new structure will beheld in March, with Tautai Manager ItaniaNikolao arranging for Lina Samu to take chargeof Tautai’s presence at the Pasifika Festival andfor Jim Vivieaere to bring together the NiuDialogue workshop and exhibition.

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Inside this issue:

Chair’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Strengthening Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Strategic Business Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Samiu Napa’a - emerging artist . . . . . . . . . . . 2Grey Lynn Park Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Pasifika Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Fresh Horizons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3New Exhibition Going off at The Edge . . . . . . 4Postcard from Fiji . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Upcoming Events & Exhibitions . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Annual funding from

ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND TOI AOTEAROA

Strengthening Management

Strategic Business PlanProfessional expertise has been used to assistthe trustees with preparation of an updatedBusiness Plan for Tautai. The Board is grateful toCreative New Zealand for providing the fundingrequired to enable the formal analysis processesto be carried out. Views are being sought from awide range of people from both within andoutside of Tautai Trust, and some of you may havebeen contacted by Helen Whitehead of SolutionsManagement to obtain your input.

The Business Plan is aimed primarily atdeveloping strategies for putting in place on-going development and future opportunities for

Tautai Trust. Strengthening the management is afocus of the review and this has already beenresponded to with the changes implemented at the beginning of this year. Further ways inwhich the existing and proposed services and assistance to Tautai members are deliveredand the wider Tautai objectives met are being examined.

This new Strategic Business Plan with itsStrengthened Management structure will be thefoundation for the next application to CreativeNew Zealand to be prepared shortly for 2005annual funding.

Board of Trustees 2004:Fatu Feu’u (Patron), Lily A Laita (Chair) Ron Brownson, Jean Clarkson Gina Cole, Ema Tavola, Colin Jeffery, Sheyne Tuffery, Jim Vivieaere

Tautai Office: Itania (Itty) Nikolao (Tautai Manager) Christina Ah Ling (Tautai Administrator)1B Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby. PO Box 44-224 Pt Chevalier, Auckland. Ph: 09-376 1665Fax: 09-376 1825 • Mob: 021-373 402

Extended Pacific Greetings for 2004

This year marks a significant milestone for Tautai,as we celebrate the individual and collective artachievements of the last eight years as acharitable trust. The proliferation of the coreprogrammes and advanced enterprise of the lasttwelve months has resulted in a greater need toconsolidate and codify the organisational base ofthe organisation.

As covered more fully below, a restructuring ofmanagement was initiated with the forethoughtof the Art Manager Itania Nikolao. Itty continuesas Tautai Manager and now has a more formalstructure to enable her to draw on others toassist her with implementing Tautai activities.

Another indication of growth is the appointmentof Jim Vivieaere and Sheyne Tuffery to the Board.The wealth of knowledge and experience whichthey bring will further enhance and develop thegovernance of the trust.

The later part of last year saw the biennial TautaiArt Symposium held in Aotea Square as afeatured and very successful event in the AK03Festival. Developments continued on the Tautaiwebsite to further enhance this as an importantsource for information on contemporary Pacificart. Creative Communities funding enabled asecond Fresh Horizons for 2003 to be held. Thiswas directed at talented art students atsecondary schools across Auckland and

continues a focus on assisting and establishingcontacts with young and emerging artists.

With the dawning of a new Year with new staff,new Board members, and new and excitingprospects on the horizon, it seems somewhat aptthat the first Tautai exhibition for the year will be‘Niu Dialogue’ and the video launch of the six dayworkshop at Aotea Centre. Excusing the paltryattempt at alliteration, to all of the Tautaimembers and supporters – Happy Niu Year, cheerand flair.

Fa’afetai tele, Ia Manuia Lily Aitui Laita - Chairperson

Chair’s Report

Itania Nikolao

Christina Ah Ling Christina Jeffery

22

Samiu Napa’a’s photo-realistic portraits are cross-cultural studies mappingthe acclimatisation of Tongans in New Zealand. Samiu is the youngest in hisfamily; he travelled with his mother from the village of Fua’amotu toAuckland in 1997 to join the majority of his family already settled here. Fromseventh form painting with Ian George at Hillary College in Otara, Samiuwent on to complete a Certificate of Art & Design at Whitecliff Collegewhich later progressed to a University of Auckland Bachelor of Visual Arts,where he is currently in his final year.

The concept of portraiture suggests a measure of respect and grandeur thatis captured so stunningly in the portrait painted of his mother, Mele Napa’a.The detail of her aged face, the locked gaze and the halo-like glow aroundher head accents the dignified process of portraiture.

Samiu’s application of traditional portrait painterly technique tocontemporary images of young Tongans in New Zealand echoes hisperception of their displacement in a foreign society. They stand as a proudvalidation of traditional Tongan values fused with Western ways of life. Heenjoys this relationship and plans to develop his studies of Tongan youthculture. His work is featured in the upcoming “Niu Dialogue” exhibition atthe Aotea Centre opening on March 1.

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Tautai was back at Grey Lynn park last November for the annual festival. Thiscommunity event has grown into a highly-successful day of great music, deliciousfood and stalls selling a wide variety of goods.

Tautai uses the day as an opportunity to raise our profile and let people know whatwe’re about. We also sell a good number of our T-shirts, books, cards and posters.

Fa’afetai Amituana’i, an artist member, had a spot by us with a friend selling paintingsand sculptures, confirming this venue as an excellent opportunity for the sale andpromotion of Pacific artwork.

We also participated in the children’s area with drawings by artist member AndyLeleisi’ uao providing the basis for a colouring activity for the kids. A big thanks toJessica Ofa and Toto Iuli who put in the hard work and long hours manning this hugelypopular activity.

The festival was very well-organised; the set-up, our location and general flow of theday were smoother and more enjoyable than past years.

The rain held off and the festival ended with the mellow reggae grooves of Katchafireon the nearby stage. We look forward to the 2004 event.

emerging artist Samiu Napa’a

Grey Lynn Park Festival

PasifikaSaturday 13th March 2004Update from Lina Samu, Event Manager

Tautai will be at Pasifika again this year on Saturday 13March from 9am until 6pm at Western Springs Park. Ourtwo marquees will be in the same place as last year – inthe Arts Arena by the Zoo car park. We are lookingforward to meeting many Tautai members andsupporters. A number of our artists will be spending timeat the marquees and the art work from the Fresh HorizonsAuckland workshop will be on display. Of course we willalso have special activities for the children organised bythe fabulous energetic and enthusiastic Jessica Ofa. Welook forward to seeing you there.

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Niu Dialogue at AK03

Fresh Horizons AucklandThis was held in November 2003 and was thesecond emerging Pacific Artists workshop forTautai last year. Thirteen Auckland Secondaryschools nominated 30 of their year 10 studentsto attend the workshop which was held at theManukau Institute of Technology.

The tutors, Lily Laita, John Ioane, SheyneTuffery, Lurlene Christiansen and Niki Hastings-McFall, lead the students through a variety ofdisciplines including print-making, jewellery,

ceramics, wood cut and painting. Tautai wasalso pleased to be able to employ Student ArtistAssistants (Vea Mafileo, Samiu Napa, LolomaAndrews, Reagan Samoa) to enhance the FreshHorizons Programme and also enable theassistants to gain valuable mentoring andsupport skills themselves.

The theme of the workshop was ‘Lapita’ andbegan with a visit to the Auckland Museumwhere Fuli Pereira, Assistant Curator Ethnology

talked about Lapita culture, its design andcomposition. Work produced during theworkshop will be on display at the Tautai ArtsArena at Pasifika.

Tautai is grateful to the Creative CommunitiesProjects of Auckland City, Manukau City andWaitakere City Councils for their support andfunding for this event.

Tautai this year held its biennial ArtsSymposium in Aotea Square Auckland. Heldover seven days in September, twenty-sixmember artists participated with the support ofseveral Tautai volunteers. It was a part of theAuckland Festival and the venue generated a lotof contact with the large audience whichturned out for AK03. Tautai is grateful for thefinancial assistance from the Pacific BusinessTrust and the Auckland Festival Trust whichenabled this big event to be staged.

Chris van Doren Lisi Luamanu Fatu Feu’u Lonnie HutchinsonFilepe Tohi Lina-Jodi Vaine Samu Faafetai Amitanuai Lurlene ChristiansenFono McCarthy Metuanooroa Tapauni Jessica Ofa Niki Hastings-McFall Jim Vivieaere Rochelle Stebbings John Ioane Richard Shortland-CooperJohnny Penisula Shigeyuki Kihara Kulimoe’anga Maka Siulolovao MoeakoliaLeafa/Janice Wilson Siligia Setoga Lily Aitui Laita Tui Hobson Loloma Andrews Veronica Vaevae

“Making art in a public space, is a little likemaking out in a public space, everything you do

is being scrutinised by passers by. They areeither bewildered or intrigued. Niu Dialogue forme as an artist, in the middle of Aotea Square,pretending to be a statue of a Samoan Taupou,was exactly that. A new dialogue orconversation with a new audience, not tomention the privilege of working alongsidesome of the most gifted artists in Aotearoa.With the comforts of our Tautai aiga, allworking, laughing and eating together in AoteaSquare, we were made a part of Auckland city.As the largest Pacific population in the world, Ibelieve that Tautai was able to communicate toAuckland and her visitors, that Pacific artistshave become part of the vital signifiers of thediverse nature of Aotearoa and the dialoguethat Pacific artists in the 21st century have withTangata Whenua and the rest of the art world.After my time in the Square, hanging out withSir Dove Myer Robinson and scaring little kidsby blinking, I can say that Tautai’s Sculpturesymposium left a vivid impression on the mindsof those who ventured in to see the gifted Tautaisculptors at work, but also it has left animpression on us in a fresh and NIU way.”

Leafa/Janice Wilson

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Past and Upcoming Events & Exhibitions

Design and layout of the Tautai Newsletter

CONTACT: TAGI COLE43 Selbourne Street, Grey Lynn, AucklandPh : 09 -376 3889Fax: 09-376 3969Mob: 027-482 6302

desktopgraphics@xtra.co.nz

NEW EXHIBITIONGOING OFF AT THE EDGE

Paradise Now? Contemporary Art from the Pacific. Asia SocietyMuseum, New York. Includes work by Michel Tuffery, John Ioane, NikiHastings-McFall, Sofia Tekela Smith, John Pule. 18 Feb – 9 May 04

Chris Chateris. G2 Gallery, Kitchener St, Auckland. Until 4 March 04

Edith Sagapolu ‘Ruthless’. Anna Miles Gallery, 4th Floor, CanterburyArcade, High Street, Auckland.Until 28 Feb 04

Jason Hall. G2 Gallery, Kitchener St, Auckland. From 6 March 04

IKI and thanks for all the IKA! Artspace, K’Road, Auckland. Includeswork by Ani O’Neil, Filipe Tohi, Jim Vivieaere, Niki Hastings-McFall, JohnPule, Lonnie Hutchinson, Veronica Vaevae. This exhibition travelled toLithuania and the Cook Islands - and now in Auckland - with additions.Until 13 March

2nd Auckland Triennial. Public/Private Tumatanui/Tumataiti. 39 atists’projects will be presented at the Auckland Art Gallery, the Gus Fisher, theGeorge Fraser, Artspace and other galleries. These are leading andemerging artists from New Zealand and 11 other countries includingLonnie Huchinson, Emily Mafile’o and John Pule. 20 March – 30 May 04

Sons and Daughters of Polynesia. Uxbridge, Uxbridge Road, Howick,Auckland. Artists will paint in response to a poem written by Rev. Muaand Feleti Strickson-Pua. Includes work by Fatu Feu’u together with histwo sons Ivor and Tuiteva.18 Feb – 17 March 04

Pacific Rim - Contemporary New Zealand Medallic Sculpture. Medialia- Rack & Hamper Gallery, 335 West 38th Street, New York. This show iscurated by Fatu Feu’u and has shown in New Zealand and Londonbefore opening in New York. Includes work by Niki Hastings-McFall, IanGeorge, John Ioane, Richard Shortland-Cooper, Stephen Gwaliasi andFatu Feu’u. 1-30 April 04

Fatu Feu’u “Vaipouli”. An exhibition of paintings. Warwick HendersonGallery, Parnell. From 11 May 04

Stephen Gwaliasi has opened a gallery/shop in the main street ofHokitika. Bonz ‘n Stonz. Go visit.

Marriage between Lily Aitui Laita and Faaafetai Toa Taoai. Ia Manuia.27 December 2004 at Henderson

Using words to exploit double meanings hasan interesting effect, not only humour but inthis particular case we have the adjectiveindigenising the object. NIU DIALOGUE isthe working title of the 2004 annual artexhibition held at The Edge Aotea Centre, inthe Aotea Gallery on level 4. The openingfunction will be on Monday 1st March 20004at 6pm - 8pm. All Tautai members are mostwelcome to attend and support this event.The exhibition is open to the public for theduration 2nd March to 27th March.

The thrust of the exhibition comes from thework of the artists that were involved in theNiu Dialogue Tautai Arts Symposium whichwas located in the Aotea Square as part of

the Auckland Arts Festival AK03 inSeptember last year. The other importantcomponent will be the work of emergingartists that have recently graduated or currently enrolled at various Auckland art institutions.

I have been contracted to manage thisevent and am pleased to be able to use thediscernment and knowledge of Ema Tavolaand Emily Mafileo to assist me. Theexhibition NIU DIALOGUE intends tocelebrate the Pacific Islander presence inthe Auckland Arts Community in the samemanner as the annual Pasifika Festival.

Jim Vivieaere. Event Manager.

Continuing Niu Dialogue

Tautai board member Ema Tavola didn’tforget us while she was at home for theChristmas holidays:

Bula vinaka!

Having spent six idyllic days in thePolynesian-tiare-scented island ofRarotonga, I find myself back in myhometown of Suva city with its familiar andunique urbanity. Being off the beatentourist track, the smell of fresh roti andcurry is infused with diesel bus fumes androtting mango seeds - and man, mangoseason has well and truly set in! I actuallymissed the muggy humidity and torrentialdownpours… you see, in Suva we are“blessed” with the daily dousings thatrefresh the senses and cleanse the mind,or so I like to think…

Void of resorts, Suva is a melting pot of thePacific with its embassies, regionalorganisations, tertiary institutions andthriving commercial centres. Butsomehow, the big city hustle bustle doesn’treally fit the landscape of this peninsulacity. Downtown, the streets throbbing with

boom-box-taxi-cabs playing Bombay hitsfade east into a backdrop of karmic oceanagainst quiet mountains and west towardsNukulau – Suva’s ‘Alcatraz’.

As appealing as Raro’s vibrant touristhangouts were, I find rummaging throughthe age-old racks of Suva’s Lace Bazaarlike hunting for hidden treasure. And ofSuva’s bustling streets – a visual melee ofIndo-Fijians, Fijians, Chinese and thosewith bits of all-sorts, intermingling andhyena-style laughing – I can sit and watchall day – under the big tree in Sukuna Parkor relaxing on the sea-wall.

Contradicting the concept of ‘Fiji Time’, Ican hardly keep up with the pace of Suva’sdevelopment: buildings mushrooming tothe sun, hire purchase for everyone!Birkenstocks and hipsters, text messagingand skinny-milk-latte – internet for justeight cents per minute!

Bubbling with opportunity, Suva providesan inspiration to the creative mind.

Moce, Ema Tavola

Postcard from Fiji

Niu DialogueExhibition

Opening Monday 1 March 2004 at 6pmAt The Edge/Aotea Centre, Auckland.

See you there!