NZ Opera performed at a NZ Portrait Gallery fundraising concert in May, with proceeds going towards the inaugural Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards. The awards were created to encourage Māori artists to celebrate their tūpuna and enable space for them to shine their pūkenga and talents, in any medium – providing a platform for a new generation of artists.

Baritone Phillip Rhodes (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Kahungunu) and soprano Katherine Winitana (Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, Ngāti Kahungunu) with pianist NZ Opera Acting Head of Music Mark W Dorrell, performed operatic favourites alongside homegrown waiata. The event was an absolute success and honour for our company to be a part of.

On 27 May 2021, Awhimai Fraser (Kaihere Ao, Participation Co-ordinator – Waikato, Ngai Tāmanuhiri, Ngāi Te Ipu) and Rebecca Galloway (Philanthropy and Grants Manager) then attended the awards in Wellington and were blown away by the beautiful pieces created by all the finalists. Bodie Friend (Waikato) was announced as the winner for his photograph depicting his tūpuna – his great-uncle Pat.

Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award: ‘We need those stories’ | RNZ News