The Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award is a competition that encourages young 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.
In 2025, our judges are:
Renata Te Wiata (Waikato, Ngaati Mahuta. Te Arawa, Ngaati Kea, Ngaati Tuaraa) is a 4th generation carver, trained under the watchful eye of his late father, Tohunga Whaikairo, Inia Te Wiata II, since the age of 12.
John Walsh (Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Irish) has built a reputation as one of the leading contemporary painters in Aotearoa. Walsh is known for his sublime, ethereal landscapes with dense narratives, which often depict scenes or characters from myths and legends of East Coast Māori.
Dr Areta Wilkinson (Kāi Tahu) is a contemporary artist whose creative practice explores visual art as a form of knowledge and practice with Māori philosophies–especially whakapapa and a worldview informed by Kāi Tahu perspectives. Areta is inspired by place and sees her work as a continuous exploration of the narratives that have shaped both her identity and her practice.
Join us as our Judges discuss their prize-winning choices and the process of judging the Award.
This is a free event, hosted in the main Gallery.
Accessibility Information: The New Zealand Portrait Gallery is an accessible venue, all on one level. There is an accessible wharepaku at the back of the venue. The gallery has automatic sliding doors and glass doors that can be pushed or pulled to enter. We have a wheelchair available for use within the gallery, and there is low stool seating throughout. If you have any questions regarding accessibility or if there is something we could do to make your visit easier, please get in touch.