Uku Artist Gathering 2027

Ngā Kaihanga Uku is a national collective of Māori clayworkers, deeply committed to nurturing clay artistry from a distinctly Māori perspective. Our kaupapa is rooted in honouring ancestral wisdom, sharing resources and knowledge, and forging strong connections with indigenous clay artists worldwide. 

In September 2027, we are planning a marae-based gathering in Te Taitokerau, where we anticipate welcoming 50 Māori clay artists to participate in studio workshops, collaborative sessions, and wānanga. The event aims to strengthen connections, share practical skills, and foster intergenerational knowledge transfer within the community.

Working with uku is not just a craft—it is an act of remembrance, a way of making sense of the world, and an ongoing dialogue with our tūpuna. This gathering will create time and space for passionate clay artists to gather, connect, strengthen skills, share fresh innovations, common values and creative approaches, all while enriching the landscape of Māori ceramic art.

Through your generosity, whakawhanaungatanga is made possible – the vital process of building and strengthening relationships – ensuring that Māori clay practices and the distinctive knowledge embodied within them are both preserved and celebrated for future generations. Your support will help this community thrive, honouring the excellence and achievements of Māori clay artists for many years to come.

Ngā Kaihanga Uku was established in the 1980s by visionary artists Baye Riddell, Manos Nathan, Colleen Waata Urlich, Paerau Corneal, and Wi Taepa. Their shared vision has evolved into a flourishing community, welcoming new members who embody the ethos of collaboration and cultural integrity. Our founders paved the way for a movement both grounded in Māori culture and open to the world.

Today, the second wave of 'muddies' remains dedicated to open discussion, strategic initiatives, and nurturing the future of Māori ceramic art. Fostering the next generation is central to our mission, ensuring that the philosophies, values, and stories of Ngā Kaihanga Uku are shared and carried forward.

Core Values

Three core values — or kaupapa — bind us together in common purpose:

·       Work with clay from a Māori perspective: We honour our heritage through traditional clay-working methods, integrating ancestral knowledge with contemporary practice.

·       Share our resources and knowledge: We support one another by sharing experience, expertise, and responsibilities, and by mentoring emerging artists to build the skills and confidence of both the individual and the collective.

·       Connect with other indigenous clay artists: We organise cross-cultural exchanges and participate in international gatherings, sharing stories, techniques, and cultural insights. In 2017, a group of Ngā Kaihanga Uku artists attended the Indigenous Artist Gathering hosted by Sgʷigʷialʔtxʷ: House of Welcome Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

"… learning from Santa Clara indigenous kuia artist Nora Naranjo Morse, and the ways in which her ancient peoples gathered, prepared, and made their clay — how clay was made to house people, to hold food and water, to interpret stories and beliefs, and of course the way in which they fire it. Simply listening, watching, sharing, and learning from her and from others within our small uku whānau from around the Pacific Rim contributed to my inner soul." — Rhonda Halliday

Our connections with indigenous clay whānau from around the world keep the fires burning — encouraging national and international gatherings, and continually sharing knowledge, stories, and culture.

We invite you to explore artist bios, images, and videos from previous gatherings, showcasing the depth and diversity of our uku whānau. These stories speak to the enduring impact and strength of the Ngā Kaihanga Uku community.

The pūtea raised from this Boosted campaign will go towards directly into the following:

• Accommodation: Marae hire, food, caterers, koha for speakers, affordable accommodation for senior artists
• Travel: Van hire, petrol vouchers
• Materials: clay, firing materials (wood, sawdust, bins, raku glazes, gas bottle)
• Exhibition: Venue hire, paint, food, drinks, marketing
• Incidentals: laundry, extra water
• Administration: Documentation, photography, communications 

Funding for this project will support a ten-day marae-based wānanga, open to Māori ceramic artists with an understanding of uku processes. Participants will collaborate in workshop and studio settings, sharing skills, techniques, and creative processes. Ngā Kaihanga Uku will host 50 Māori clay artists, drawing on the success of previous events where collaborative workshops led to lasting partnerships and mentorships.

• Local experts will be invited to share cultural histories, narratives of the region and guide visits to local significant sites that may result in new work being made, collaborations and experimental works, extending the impact of the wānanga beyond the event itself.
• Local schools, marae and community members will be invited to an open day at the marae studio workshop space; attend artist talks and view the exhibition
• The project will culminate in a collective firing, echoing past wānanga where participants united to create works that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

•  Shaping the future of Māori ceramic arts together
• Seeing ourselves, our stories, and our histories reflected in the work being made
• Ensuring the integrity and quality of work is consistently produced to a standard of professional excellence
• Embodying connection to whenua and connectivity to tūpuna, atua, and cultural narratives
• Fostering ongoing, healthy collaboration and engagement with national and international indigenous clay artists

If you would like to support this gathering, donate and spread the word, we thank you for your help and generosity.