Tatty Naff Matariki Exhibition

Tatty Naff reimagines the gallery as a 1970s-inspired whare environment, drawing on domestic design elements of the era. The exhibition integrates Māori material practices with retro interior aesthetics to create a cohesive installation shaped around the principles of communal space, shared making, and the values associated with Matariki. The project positions the gallery as a lived-in room rather than a formal white‑cube environment. Works reference common features of 1970s Aotearoa domestic interiors — textured fabrics, warm lighting, bamboo, bead detailing, modular seating — and combine these with Māori methods of making, including whatu, whakairo, kōhatu work, and collective construction. Light functions as a central organising element, with each lighting work referencing the Matariki whetū through its material choices, form, and tone. The exhibition uses these light sources to structure the space and guide movement in a manner aligned with the conceptual architecture of a whare. Tutu Fingers Collective Tutu Fingers Collective is a dynamic weaving collective made up of artists Arapeta Hākura, Wai Ching Chan, Kaliyah Lima, Arihi Stevenson, Yana Sanvictores and Ziggy Raven (Hākura, Stevenson and Raven are the participating artists of Tatty Naff). The collective is dedicated to the revitalization and innovation of Māori-Asia Pacific weaving practices, centralizing their work around traditional materials such as harakeke (New Zealand flax) and muka (fiber extracted from flax) and other native plants endemic to Aotearoa. They also incorporate contemporary materials and techniques, drawing inspiration from whatu kākahu (Māori cloak weaving) and rāranga (Māori basket weaving) and wider Asia Pacific weaving practices. Tutu Fingers aims to bridge the traditional and modern worlds of Māori-Asia Pacific weaving, creating pieces that resonate with cultural heritage while embracing new artistic expressions. Their work ranges from large-scale weaving projects that command space and attention to small, intricate, and intimate installations that invite close engagement. Each piece reflects a deep connection to Māori identity, culture, and the natural world (te taiao), exploring the intricate relationships between people and their environment. Exhibition: From 4th July till 8th August 2026 Gallery Hours: 10am – 4.30pm Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 1pm -4pm Saturdays Thanks to Kaipātiki Local Board for its funding support, which enables NorthArt to provide accessible arts experiences.

Dates & Times

• Saturday, 4 July 2026

  14:00 – 16:00 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Wednesday, 8 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Thursday, 9 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Friday, 10 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Saturday, 11 July 2026

  13:00 – 16:00 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Wednesday, 15 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Thursday, 16 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Friday, 17 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Saturday, 18 July 2026

  13:00 – 16:00 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Wednesday, 22 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Thursday, 23 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Friday, 24 July 2026

  10:00 – 16:30 (Pacific/Auckland)

• Saturday, 25 July 2026

  13:00 – 16:00 (Pacific/Auckland)