Kia ora koutou

Te kōanga – Spring has arrived! This issue features workshops, exhibitions and live events across the Lower North island to get your creative juices flowing!

Te Whanganui-a-tara

Stevei Houkāmau – Live – Uku carving demonstration | He toi Whakairo Exhibition, Te Papa 29 August.

Stevei Houkāmau is a contemporary Māori artist working across uku, sculpture, adornment and installation. Recognised internationally, her practice treats clay not as a fixed tradition, but as a living language through which whakapapa can be carved, carried, and pushed forward. Drawing from tā moko, whakairo and Indigenous systems of knowledge, Houkāmau creates bold, highly resolved forms that move between taonga, body, and architecture.

Stevei presented a live uku clay carving workshop on Sat 29 August at Te Papa. You can visit Te Papa’s He toi Whakairo Exhibition and some of Stevei’s works purchased by the museum here https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/visit/exhibitions/he-toi-whakairo

Image source Te Papa (2026) He toi Whakairo Exhibition.

Inspiration from The Dowse Lower Hutt

Exhibition: Where u From | Aug 22 – Feb ’27: https://dowse.org.nz/exhibitions-and-events/exhibitions/current

Where U From brings together four artists exploring the language of siapo—the Sāmoan art of barkcloth making—within their practices and the contemporary world.

Kāpiti Coast – Workshop

Punch! 17 Oct – Sculptural Lidded Jar 1-day Workshop | Ōtaki Pottery Club.

Ceramics NZ is helping facilitate 2 different workshop offers – a 1-day sculptural lidded jar workshop, or a 1-day narrative sculpture standing figure workshop. All workshops run from 10am to 5pm with a break for lunch. See other locations for Punch workshops: Queenstown | Dunedin | Auckland. https://ceramicsnz.org/news-and-events/touring-potter-programme/chanakarn-semachai-aka-punch/

Ōtaki Pottery Club – Workshops

Raku workshop: https://store.otakipotteryclub.org/workshop-enrolments

Japanese Wheel throwing / forming Workshop with Gregory Miller | 24 Sep 2026 | Ōtaki Pottery Club from 9am – 3pm.

Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū

Whanganui Artists Open Studios – Call out for artists 2027: https://openstudios.co.nz/

Coastal Arts Trail https://coastalartstrail.nz/

The Coastal Arts Trail is an easy self-drive itinerary of the art galleries, museums and open studios along the central North Island’s West Coast. It is a collection of must-see creative attractions for curious wanderers exploring New Zealand. Explore the art galleries, museums, and open studios of Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū. The Coastal Arts Trail follows a pulse of creativity running through these three regions, and gives you insight into the lives and inspirations of the artists and creatives living here. Download the map here https://coastalartstrail.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CAT-Map-Flyer-A4-Web-23a.pdf

Ceramic classes | Venues and Groups

Wellington Potters’ Association WPA. For ceramics classes book via Wellington High School Community Education. Classes sell out FAST! |https://www.cecwellington.ac.nz/w/courses/cat-198-pottery/

Levin Pottery Club https://levinpotteryclub.wixsite.com/levinpotteryclub

Ōtaki Pottery Club https://store.otakipotteryclub.org/pottery-classes-adults

New Plymouth Potters https://newplymouthpotters.co.nz/

Next issue

If you have news/events/workshop/clay hacks/inspiration to share with the wider ceramics community reach out to: wellingtonwestern@ceramicsnz.org by mid-October for our Nov-Dec 2026 issue.

Ngā mihi

Stephanie

CANZ Regional representative