IHI and Ongo – new Pātaka exhibition season opens

31 Mar 2026

Opening for Ongo and IHI at Pataka Art and Museum

Our Autumn Season opened with two new exhibitions, IHI and Ongo: (Re)sounding the Vā. The opening evening, led by mana whenua Ngāti Toa, wove together karakia and an exchange of taonga puoro and fangufangu, followed by insightful speeches by the curators and artists.

IHI, by artists Axel Iva, Te Ara Minhinnick and Ming Ranginui, explores the concept of ihi – a charged inner force. Familiar forms move to unfamiliar roles; whenua hangs above us, plastic forms the walls of a Samoan fale umu and a wharenui is constructed from pink smoked satin. IHI is co-curated by Ioana Gordon-Smith and Israel Randell.

Ongo: (Re)sounding the Vā by Dr Rachael Hall, Dr Adriana Lear and Dr Sione Fatau is a stirring exhibition that beautifully illustrates the revival and reclamation of the ancient through contemporary artistic expressions of fangufangu – the Tongan bamboo nose flute.

Later in the season, these two exhibitions will be joined by Robyn Kahukiwa: Tohunga Mahi Toi for its final presentation, which opens in May.

We also celebrated the launch of a new exhibition wall to display artworks from the collection.

Lead Curator Ioana Gordon Smith Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum and the exhibition Ongo Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum for Ongo and Ihi Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum and the artists from Ongo Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with Rachael Hall Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with Mayro Anita Baker Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with Israel Randall Opening celebrations for new exhibitions at Pataka Art and Museum Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum for Ongo Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with director Ana Sciascia Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with artist Rachael Hall Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum and the exhibition Ihi Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with Jacki leota Mua Opening celebrations for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum for the new exhibition season Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum with Mayro Anita Baker Opening celebrations at Pataka Art and Museum for the exhibition Ongo Visitors at opening celebrations for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum.jpg Opening of Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum.jpg Opening for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum.jpg celebrations for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum Opening celebrations for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum at Pātaka Jacki Leota Mua at the opening celebrations for Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum.jpg 2026_03_27_ER_01606 Opening celebrations for Ongo, IHI at Pataka Art and Museum.jpg IHI at Pātaka Opening celebrations for IHI and Ongo at Pataka Art and Museum IHI Pātaka Opening of IHI at Pātaka

Images by Mark Tantrum

Open: 10am–5pm, 7 days a week

Visit: Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua

Call: +64 4 237 1511 email: pataka@poriruacity.govt.nz

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Email: pataka@poriruacity.govt.nz

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