He toi whakairo, he mana tangata - Without Māori art, who are we?
When we collectivise and weave together the tapestries of our arts, it creates a deeply rich and diverse cultural landscape that reflects our unique experiences, stories and perspectives. So, it begs the question: without Māori art - who are we?
To celebrate Matariki and our one-year M9 anniversary, our kaikōrero will reflect on the resilience their tūpuna required to pursue their respective art forms, how their continued practice in the face of colonisation led to revolutionary change and how integral Māori arts are to our collective survival as a nation today.