We are a creative collective brought together through the art of moko and all toi Māori. It is our hope to inspire a legacy of creativity and foster a space unapologetically for Māori, by Māori.
Nō reira, nau mai, kuhu mai tātou katoa ki to mātou nei whare o Ngā Manu a Toi.
He whare moko, he whare toi, he whare wānanga.
Whāia ngā mahi o Rarohenga
Ngā Manu a Toi was created by Hirini Katene and Wairingiringi Toi to expand the horizons of moko and toi māori to heights not yet seen in urban spaces. Beginning as a small seed sown between the brother/sister duo, Heeds and Tings combined their powers and their studios The Native Studios & Mau Te Rongo to form a space that they had been dreaming of since their humble beginnings in Māngere Bridge.
Ngā Manu a Toi serves as a whare to honour the mahi of moko as well as the long legacy and teachings of Gordon Toi.
The name Ngā Manu a Toi whilst a nod to their pāpā, Ngā Manu also serves as a reference to the nocturnal manu (birds) that guided Mataora through Rarohenga and back to Te Ao Mārama. Upon their return, Niwareka and Mataora brought with them the gifts of tāmoko, tāniko and self awareness bestowed by Uetonga. Therefore, as modern kaitiaki of these taonga, we liken ourselves to these manu, being your guides down to Rarohenga and back to Te Ao Mārama.
