ZOE MOANA MURRAY
Zoe Moana Murray
Photographer: Jos Wheeler
TAIOHI 2021
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Ohau Tieke me Whakarara te maunga
Ko Matauri te moana
Ko Ngāti Kauau me Ngāti Kura ngā hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Ko Zoe Moana Murray ahau
Moana is a multi-media artist who works with uku, harakeke, paint and screen printing. She grew up in Los Angeles but recently returned to Aotearoa to pursue te Reo Māori and Toi. Moana is passionate about reviving mātauranga Māori for her whānau and continues to develop her toi practice with raranga and uku.
She is a visual artist who likes working with clay, fibres and paint and uses art to express her emotions, dreams and desires. She also loves music and she can play the piano, has taught herself ukulele and sings waiata from kapa haka. She works across a range of mediums in visual arts. This includes watercolour and acrylic paints, ceramics and linoleum printing. She’s also recently discovered taniko and would like to learn raranga and whatu muka as well.
Inspirations for Zoe are her atua wāhine, her kuia and koro.
Tai o Hī Tai o Hā Internship Programme 2022
In August 2021, following closely from the Tai o Hī Tai o Hā Wānanga Toi Series, six of our taiohi who had an affinity with uku (clay) or muka (flax fibre), were invited to participate in an intimate Ukupapa wānanga, supported by Northland Community Foundation. Their brief was to create a series of ukutangi as gifts for Toi Ngāpuhi esteemed guest speakers at the upcoming Te Toi Mahara conference. Well known uku artist and Toi Ngāpuhi Board Director Dorothy Waetford, mentored the taiohi through the process of creating the first stage of the taonga. Rebecca Toki, Pou Awhina Toi Ngāpuhi, assisted with producing the muka that would then be used to adorn the ukutangi.
‘This wānanga really hit home for me; arā, ko Whangaruru. The Ukupapa was hosted at the Henry Murray Whānau Marae in Ohawini and with the help of my whānau we welcomed a rōpū of Taiohī led by Dorothy Waetford and Rebecca Toki. Soon we all had our hands in uku, including all the aunties! Our goal: create pūtangitangi and āwhiowhio taonga with muka embellishments.
While one side focused on mahi muka utilizing harakeke harvested from Rongomai and Bex’s marae in Whakapara, the other half of us formed a working circle with uku. As we passed around each taonga in the process, the uku was imprinted with the mauri of each of our hands. We even managed to fit in visits to Ngāti Hau whenua just around the bay.
It was a privilege to bring this toi kaupapa home to my whānau, to my karanipā and my aunties. From the tīmatanga of my karanipā sharing his mihi, to sharing kōrero in our wharenui in presence of my tūpuna, this ukupapa was a first for us. It was the first time I spoke in te reo Māori in my wharenui, and the first wānanga for my whānau to take part in.
Anei te hakatinana o ngā toi Māori, i roto i te kāinga, i waenganui i ngā whānau, i runga i te whenua. Haramai tētahi āhua!’ Zoe Moana Murray, taiohi participant.
The second stage was the adornment of the taonga to transform them from ipu (vessels) to taonga puoro (instruments). The whakaaro for these was sparked from the collaboration that occured between Dorothy and Rebecca for the Tai o Hī Tai o Hā online exhibition, where they created an uku and muka poi awhiowhio. They joined Pou Kaupapa Bethany Edmunds and spent the day binding kiwi feathers and muka and reminiscing on the joy of working with and inspiring a new generation of young creatives.
‘My gut feelings have always pulled or led me in the direction of pursuing creative opportunities. Growing up my whanau showed me in different ways that creative pursuits are a source of motivation, drive and positivity for me. As ākonga pursuing mahi toi, we were introduced to Māori artists, who inspired and mentored the next generation - kia whakaohooho te whakatupuranga e heke mai ana. I hope I can share with others in a way that inspires, motivates and helps others to pursue a pathway of excellence and be a positive contribution to their whānau, hapū and iwi.’
Ukutangi adorned with muka and kiwi feathers to become poi āwhiowhio