Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award

The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a competition that encourages and inspires Maaori artists to create portraits of their tupuna (ancestors) in any medium. The Award is hosted and administered by Te Pūkenga Whakaata the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in honour of the late Maaori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII with the blessing of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.

Entries are open for 2027!

First Prize: $20,000 
Young Artist Award: $2,500 
Forsyth Barr People’s Choice Award: $2,500 

The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award provides Māori artists with the opportunity to showcase their talents on the national stage, while also playing an important role in recording and celebrating tupuna and their stories.

The Award culminates with an exhibition of finalist artworks at The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata in Wellington over a three month period, timed to coincide with Matariki. Judging of the shortlisted works is undertaken shortly before the opening of the exhibition.

The inaugural competition was held in 2021. The next award will be held in 2027.

Entries close 24 March 2027.

Te Tohu Kiriaro o Kiingi Tuheitia

Koia ko Te Tohu Kiriaro o Kiingi Tuehitia he whakataetae e whakatenatena ana, e whakahihiri ana i i ngaa ringa toi Maaori kia kiriaahutia teetehi tupuna ki ngaa momo toi. E pae whenua ana teenei tohu ki Te Puukenga Whakaata hei whakamahara i a Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Whertowhero VII, aa, e tautokona ana e Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.

Kua tuwhera nga whakaurunga mo te tau 2027!

Ko te Taumata Tuatahi: $20,000
Ko te Toi Rangatahi : $2,500
Ko te whiringa toa a te iwi: $2,500

E tukuna ana e Te Tohu Kiriaro o Kiingi Tuheitia kia aahei ngaa kaitoi Maaori whanake ki te whakaata i ngaa pukenga ki te motu whaanui, a, e whakakaupapa ana i te mau pupuru me te whakanui i nga tuupuna tae noa ki a raatou koorero.

Ka oti te Tohu nei ki te whakaata i ngaa toi tauwhiti ki Te Puukenga Whakaata i Te Whanganui-a-Tara moo te toru marama te roa, hei te waa o Matariki ka tuu. Ka whakahaerehia te aromatawai i ngaa mahi kua tohua i mua tata tonu i te whakatuwheratanga o te whakaaturanga.

Ko te Tohu tuatahi i tuu i te tau 2021. Ko te Tohu e whai ake nei ka tu hei te 2027.

Ka kati ngaa tono a te 24 o Maehe 2027.