Kia ora koutou

We welcome 2026 with a stunning start to Summer in many places and some exciting happenings in our region. Ōtaki Pottery Club is soon to host its annual Festival of Pots and Garden Art at Anam Cara gardens, Ōtaki. Resident ceramist at The Kilns at Te Horo, Shigemori Ohashi shares shares his latest work in progress – The Moon. It’s also inspiring to hear from group and individual ceramists and potters in the region as to what they are up to in 2026, reflecting the breadth of ceramic education launching in term one in our region. From beginners to advanced, they reflect a wealth of ceramic talent so why not harness your creative urge in 2026 and check out one/many of the links below to kick start your creativity. On that note, I wish you all a creative year in clay and please share your inspirations and mud hacks with your cohorts in the ‘next’ bi-monthly publication – in words, images and form.

KAPITI REGION: Ōtaki Pottery Club

Festival organisers, Ōtaki Pottery Club proudly announce three exceptional guest artists featured in the 2026 Festival of Pots and Garden Art exhibition – Wellington Anniversary weekend (15th-19th January). Celebrated ceramicist Fiona Tunnicliffe​ brings her much-loved animal-inspired works, full of character and intricate detail. Award-winning painter Shona Mackenzie shares her evocative semi-abstract pieces, influenced by the beauty of nature and her ties to New Zealand and Scotland. Completing this year’s line-up is sculptor Win Oliver, whose imaginative forms add a striking three-dimensional presence to the festival. Together, their diverse talents promise an inspiring and memorable experience (Ōtaki Pottery Club, 2026).

Festival of Pots and Garden Art is an annual collaboration of talented artists, musicians and art enthusiasts, so invite your friends and whanau to explore and experience the beauty of hand made ceramics and live entertainment in the stunning Anam Cara gardens. You can expect guest artist talks, live music from talented musicians (Jeremiah Ross and Unity Wara); “Have a go” ceramic activities for children and adults, and live demonstrations from local ceramists.

Featured artists:
Ceramist, FionaTunicliffe (below) brings her passion for animal forms to life in clay.

Painter, Shona Mackenzie (below) paints evocative semi-abstract pieces, influenced by the beauty of nature and her ties to New Zealand and Scotland.

Sculptor, Win Oliver crafts imaginative forms in native timbers, stone and other sustainable materials adding a striking three-dimensional presence to the festival.

Festival of Pots and Garden Art opens Thursday 15th January – Monday 19th January 2026, 10am – 4pm daily, with a late night until 8pm on the Friday. Entry: $5 per person, free for under-16s (door sales only). So, why not seize this opportunity to get amongst local artists and take home a piece of handcrafted art. The Festival program can be downloaded from here https://www.otakipotteryclub.org/festival-of-pots-kapiti.html

Ōtaki Pottery Club

Ōtaki Pottery Club’s [OPC] latest educational offerings will inspire your ceramics journey throughout 2026, with a range of term based and one-off workshops on offer. Located within the leafy Ōtaki Māori Racing Club grounds, Ōtaki Pottery Club boasts talented ceramists tutoring handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques, excellent club facilities and ‘Tote Modern’ exhibition gallery where members and guest artists exhibit and sell their art. Uncover your passion for ceramics at https://www.otakipotteryclub.org/

The Kilns at Te Horo

Something special is happening right now at The Kilns at Te Horo.
The moon and other planets in our solar system are being created in clay with extraordinary accuracy by artist-in-residence Shigemitsu Ohashi of Osaka, Japan. Every crater, mountain and valley of the moon can be seen in minute detail, all painstakingly recreated from hi-resolution photographic images. Shige says he often gazes at the sky trying to imagine space and wondering why the earth or universe exists. “I believe the moon had an important role in creating life on earth. The moon is beautiful for me.” Shige is also creating Earth, Mars and Saturn. ‘Saturn is complete and I am about to begin on the rings” a task he aims to complete in a week. The planets and other wheel thrown works will be on show from 4 April at Toi MAHARA and will mark the end of Shige’s six months residency at The Kilns at Te Horo. His time at Te Horo is particularly special as he is working and living at the pottery of his friend, the late Mirek Smíšek. ‘The residency is an opportunity to focus on my ceramics at Mirek’s historical site, with memories and gratitude.’ says Shige.
The Kilns at Te Horo are open for visitors weekends 10am – 4pm.

https://www.thekilnsattehoro.co.nz

Image: Shigemitsu Ohashi: The moon – work in progress.

WHANGANUI: Whanganui Potters Studio

Potter Fiona McLeod, a Whanganui-based potter is teaching classes in her Whanganui studio (and one workshop in Paraparaumu).

Fiona’s Whanganui studio workshops include:

1. After school- ages 9-15years old- Tuesdays 4pm-5pm. Starts: 17th February

2. Adult Handbuilding Thursday mornings 10am-11.30am. Starts 15th January (ongoing weekly classes.)

3. Adult Handbuilding 4 week block of evening classes. Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm- Starts: 18th February

4. Intensive beginners wheel class. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 11 sessions over 6 weeks. Only 2 students. Starts: 17th February. 6.30-8.30pm. Throwing on Tuesdays and trimming (turning) on Thursdays.

Fiona is also hosting two workshops in Paraparaumu at Big Mac Slabs on the 1st of March:

1. Make a vase, cup or flower pressed plate at 10.30am

2. Coil build a honey pot or bowl at 1pm. Please visit Fiona’s website for details/booking. www.mcleodpottery.co.nz

Upper Hutt Wellington: Pinehaven Potters

Pinehaven Potters is a small community studio in Upper Hutt, with around 40 active members. Our kiln has served us well for at least 30 years, but it’s now beyond repair. To keep the studio running and support our members, we need to replace it.

Help Pinehaven Potters Get a New Kiln! We’ve set up a Givealittle campaign to help fund a new kiln: givealittle.co.nz/cause/pinehaven-potters. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference and help us continue providing a space for creativity and connection. If you value community studios and want to support the next generation of ceramic artists, please consider donating or sharing our campaign.

Wellington Potters Association [WPA]: https://www.wellingtonpotters.org.nz

WPA in the heart of Wellington City, has been Wellington’s go to ceramic’s venue since 1958 with a thriving membership (and waiting list). WPA host regular pottery classes and workshops for all levels of experience taught by established practitioners, so if you’re Wellington city based, or visiting, you can sign up for term-based classes via Wellington High School Community Education (hosted at WPA) here: https://www.cecwellington.ac.nz/w/search/pottery/.

In December, 2025 WPA acknowledged one of their long standing members, Ceramist, Shigemitsu Ohashi, awarding Shige as WPA’s newest life member. You can read about Shige’s work and contribution to Anagama and ceramics in Aotearoa in WPA’s December news via this link: https://www.wellingtonpotters.org.nz/news/december-2025

If you have news to share with Ceramics NZ then please email me at wellingtonwestern@ceramicsnz.org by deadline 28 February for our next bi- monthly e-newsletter to be published 2 March. Please include editorial and images (jpeg not pdf) by deadline for collaboration with the CANZ publishing team. Thank you.

Ngā mihi

Stephanie Nossiter | Wellington -Western CANZ representative | wellingtonwestern@ceramicsnz.org.