This week saw the passing of one of the giants of Toi Maori - Selwyn Muru. He died peacefully aged 86 on Wednesday.
From Ngāti Kuri and Te Aupouri, Muru's work included painting, sculpture, journalism, broadcasting, directing, acting, set design, theatre, and poetry. He's perhaps most visibly known for the 'Waharoa' or wooden gateway that stands in Aotea Square in Central Auckland.
We spoke with Tama Waipara for our regional wrap earlier in the show. Tama was one of a number of special arts advocates and artists recognised in this month's New Year's Honours List.
Pip Laufiso from Otepoti was also recognised for her contributions to the arts and community, while Makerita Urale for her support of the Pacific arts.
Other artists recognised include writer David Hill, Christchurch's Jodi Wright, master carver Clive Fugill, dancer Tupe Lualua and theatre educator Susan Battye.
Meanwhile Libby Hakaraia's body of work over the last three decades has seen her bestowed with the Merata Mita Fellowship by the Sundance Institute, named after the late Māori film-maker to support Indigenous women-identified artists who are directing their first feature films.
Hakaraia - the cofounder of the Maoriland film festival is working on her directorial debut feature Taniwha.
And in residencies news, Kate Aschoff has been named this year's Elizabeth Brooke-Carr Emerging Writers Resident by Dunedin's Caselberg Trust.
Aschoff will continue to work on their first book of poetry and create new zine-based work.
It was announced this week that Hana Pera Aoake has been awarded a 2024 curatorial residency with Delfina Foundation and Metroland Cultures in London.
She will spend 12 weeks in London, starting in April.
Also offshore - a project originally commissioned by Auckland gallery Te Tuhi as part of an artists collective global World Weather Network, looking to mark changes in climate - will be shown at Khoj, a leading contemporary art centre in New Delhi, starting this week.
Ngā Raraunga o te Mākū: the data of moisture is an installation visualising data, sounds and images from Haupapa (Ho-papa) Glacier, Aoraki Mt Cook, live-streamed to New Delhi.
Sound artist Rachel Shearer, moving image artist Janine Randerson and programmer Stefan Marks are in India for the event.
