Toi Aro

Toi Aro Nurturing Wellington's creative community since 2005. Toi Poneke Arts Centre is Wellington's creative space to meet, work, rehearse and exhibit.
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Toi Poneke nurtures early-career arts practitioners, creative businesses and arts organisations. We host around 15 exhibitions a year and admission to the gallery is free.

What's Your Story? An Intro to storytelling.WorkshopTues 15 Sept, 6 - 9pmToi Aro - Tupaia Ki Te AroKoha/$20"Storytelling...
01/09/2026

What's Your Story? An Intro to storytelling.
Workshop
Tues 15 Sept, 6 - 9pm
Toi Aro - Tupaia Ki Te Aro
Koha/$20
"Storytelling" is one of the keys to being a good artist. The art of storytelling is also essential for fundraising, marketing, pitching, presentations, job interviews, and so much more. However, not everyone can tell you what a story is and how to tell it effectively.

Join Neil Thornton, award-winning teacher, comedian, and writer, for a 3-hour introduction to the art of storytelling, the true kind, drawn from your own life.

This is a broader version of the storytelling class Neil usually teaches. Same content, wider aim: come whether you want to get on stage or just want your pitch to land or your grant to be funded

For more info and to book:
https://www.toiaro.nz/whats-on/whats-your-story-an-introduction-to-storytelling

Call for Applications:Toi Aro d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development ResidencyThe Residency will run from 26 Oct – 20...
01/09/2026

Call for Applications:

Toi Aro d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency

The Residency will run from 26 Oct – 20 Dec 2026 (8 weeks)

‍Applications close – 5pm, Tuesday 15 September 2026

‍This opportunity is open to one d/Deaf and/or disabled artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, to develop new work for 8 weeks part time. You will be given a studio to develop your art practice and a stipend of $3750 before tax.

‍You will have access to a paid interpreter/mentor/ other support person of your choice depending on your needs.

For more info and to apply:
https://www.toiaro.nz/residencies

Front of House Accessibility Training workshopMon 5 October 20261.30pm – 4.30pmFreeLearn how to provide an accessible, d...
18/08/2026

Front of House Accessibility Training workshop
Mon 5 October 2026
1.30pm – 4.30pm
Free

Learn how to provide an accessible, dignified and equitable events experience to all visitors, and gain more confidence in your abilities to meet the needs of Deaf and disabled people. For all levels of experience with accessibility in the arts, the session is ideal for theatre, venue and event staff, and anyone working in front of house and customer facing roles in the arts.

Workshop facilitated by Katie Querin from Arts Access Aotearoa

For more info and to reserve your spot:
https://www.toiaro.nz/whats-on/front-of-house-accessibility-training

For Māori Music Month, Toi Aro is teaming up with SOUNZ to screen some Māori Music from Tue 11 – Mon 31 Here-Turi-Kōka, ...
06/08/2026

For Māori Music Month, Toi Aro is teaming up with SOUNZ to screen some Māori Music from Tue 11 – Mon 31 Here-Turi-Kōka, August. During office hours visitors will experience documented live performances by Komako Silver, Ariana Tikao, Dylan Lardelli, Dr Ruby Solly, Jerome Kavanagh Poutama and many, many more. Toi Aro is grateful to SOUNZ () Films (funded by NZ On Air () for sharing this large selection of taonga pūoro and giving us the opportunity to share it with our communities.

Toi Aro is open from 10am-8pm on weekdays and 10am-4pm weekends.
We hope to see you here! Hei konā!

Image credits:
Image 2: Ariana Tikao (cropped still).
Rēkohu, Kōrorohu and Waiting by Alistair Fraser and Phil Boniface.
Performed by Phil Boniface, Alistair Fraser, Ruby Solly, and Ariana Tikao.

Image 3: Dylan Lardelli and Ingrid Bauer (cropped still)
Musical Box by Dylan Lardelli
Performed by Stroma: Dylan Lardelli (guitar), Ingrid Bauer (harp), and Andrew Thomson (viola)

Image 4: Jerome Kavanagh Poutama (cropped still)
Papatūānuku by Salina Fisher and Jerome Kavanagh Poutama
Performed by Jerome Kavanagh Poutama with the Auckland Philharmonia (conductor Vincent Hardaker).

Kia ora!Due to staffing shortages, reception will be closed Friday 31/07, and the Arts Centre will be closed to public S...
30/07/2026

Kia ora!

Due to staffing shortages, reception will be closed Friday 31/07, and the Arts Centre will be closed to public Saturday 01/08 and Sunday 02/08.

If you have any reception enquiries or have bookings over the weekend and require access, please contact reception before 8pm tonight 30/07.

Noho ora mai,

AROTAHI RINGATOI // Artist profile 📢📢Taupuruariki (Ariki) Brightwell (Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Huia, Ngati Whakaue, Ro...
23/07/2026

AROTAHI RINGATOI // Artist profile 📢📢

Taupuruariki (Ariki) Brightwell (Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Huia, Ngati Whakaue, Rongowhakaata, Tahiti) is an indigenous artist of Māori, Tahitian and Rarotongan descent. She is a 27th generation artist with a deep passion for creativity, history and storytelling giving a sense of duty to pass on the legacy of art in Te Ao Māori.

For The First Exhibitiong Taupuruariki Brightwell present Te Māreikura. On until 15 October. 📸Renati Waaka

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist spotlight 📢📢Te Rangi Kauia MoriartyFrom a large creative whānau, Kauia was born in Pōneke and...
23/07/2026

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist spotlight 📢📢

Te Rangi Kauia Moriarty
From a large creative whānau, Kauia was born in Pōneke and grew up in Ōtepoti before living and working in Tāmaki Makaurau, Korea and back to Ōtepoti where she had her fi rst pēpi in 2015. She returned home to Pōneke and Porirua in 2021 with her daughter. Kauia studied a Bachelor of Music at the University of Otago, and has since maintained various forms of creative practice over the years, with painting being her main focus.

Since returning home, Kauia has immersed herself in both traditional and contemporary toi Māori, including mentorship with artist Vianney Parata. These experiences have deepened her practice in kōwhaiwhai painting, muka, and digital art, grounding her work in iwi-led narratives. Her mahi spans painting, digital design, curation, and public art, with a particular focus on contributing to an iwi-inspired visual language that strengthens connections between people, place, and whakapapa. Kauia and Vianney together designed the current Waituhi flags installation at Frank Kit’s park, and the plinth at the entrance to Toi Aro.

For Teh First Exhibition Te Rangi Kauia Moriarty presents Pūanga. On until 15 October. 📸Renati Waaka

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist profile 📢📢Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (Te Ati Awa) was a leading figure in the revival and advance...
22/07/2026

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist profile 📢📢

Erenora Puketapu-Hetet (Te Ati Awa) was a leading figure in the revival and advancement of Māori fibre arts. A master weaver and innovator, she worked across traditional and contemporary forms, including kākahu, tukutuku, and woven sculpture. Erenora was deeply committed to the transmission of weaving knowledge, both within her whānau and through her teaching and public engagement. Her work is recognised for its strong grounding in tikanga Māori and its contribution to the recognition of weaving as both art and taonga. Through her legacy, she helped elevate Māori weaving to national and international prominence.

For The First Exhibition Erenora Puketapu-Hetet presents Paua Kete. On until 15 October 2026. 📸Renati Waaka

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist spotlight Elena Rei’s (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Sāmoa) creati...
21/07/2026

AROTAHI RINGATOI // artist spotlight

Elena Rei’s (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, Sāmoa) creative practice sits within the realm of Te Whare Pora, weaving together customary and contemporary processes of raranga, whatu muka and tukutuku. Interlaced throughout her works are collective dreams, moments of remembering and profound experiences with the materials she uses. Much of Elena’s practice is intuitive, emulating the ways of her tūpuna and drawing from a visual language that has been woven through time. Her works reimage and make familiar our inherent connection to ngā atua wāhine, through themes of aroha, grief, whakapapa and reconnection.

Elena studied design and textiles at Massey University, where she gained early insights into practices within Te Whare Pora. A formative experience during this time was learning tukutuku under the guidance of Kohai Grace during classes at Whitireia, an experience that continues to inform her practice today.

For The First Exhibition Elena Rei present Aroha (tukutuku). On until 15 October 2026. 📸Renati Waaka

Address

3 Market Lane
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+6443851929

Website

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