Opening Weekend / 9-10 November 2024
Saturday, 9 November 2024
9.30am – 10am Opening Ceremony Mihi for Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
Everyone please gather at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery’s entrance by 9.15am.
10am – 6pm Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery is open to the public!
12noon – 12.30pm Hikoi from the Whanganui River Markets to Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
Join Brass Whanganui for a percussion and brass extravaganza from the river markets up Drews Avenue to Pukenamu and to the door of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery. Dress creatively – shimmer and shine your way up the hill!
10am – 11pm Outdoor Events, Food and Fun All Day at Pukenamu
A full programme of performances from local and New Zealand musicians, including Anthonie Tonnon, Alphabethead, internationally renowned taonga puoro master Rob Thorne, violinist and digital multi-instrumentalist Motte, a New Zealand Opera School concert featuring world-class pianist Somi Kim, sopranos Sarah Mileham and Olivia Forbes, tenor Ridge Ponini, and baritone Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono, Kapa Haka, and much more.
Food and drink will be available from the Sarjeant Gallery Trust marquee, alongside plenty of opportunities to explore Whanganui’s local food scene.
7.30pm – 11pm Rama: Light
After-dark light projections will illuminate the gallery, creating a captivating night-time experience, featuring works by Whanganui visual and moving image artists.
Sunday, 10 November
10am – 10pm Outdoor Events, Food and Fun All Day at Pukenamu
With a focus on whānau, fun hands-on art activities for all ages will be available, fostering a space where people can connect, celebrate, and be inspired by art.
A full programme of performances from local musicians and groups will continue throughout the day.
After-dark light projections will illuminate the gallery, creating a captivating night-time experience, featuring works by Whanganui visual and moving image artists.
10.30am – 12noon Kōrero: Te Mana o Te Awa, Te Mana o Te Iwi, The Sovereignty of the River and Its People
Throughout his lifetime, Tā Te Atawhai Archie Taiaroa led his iwi in pursuit of recognition of the mana of the Awa and the mana of his iwi.
By the early 2000s, Tā Archie Taiaroa reasoned that for too long, the iwi had made representations and litigated in courts. Every time it did, the iwi values were narrowed to the extent that they were unrecognisable to the iwi. From this point, the iwi would cease explaining itself and instead expect the Crown, local government, and the community to align with the iwi paradigm.
Tā Archie led a cultural and legal shift that resulted in the Te Awa Tupua legislation in 2017. The legacy of his people’s fight for Te Mana o te Awa, Te Mana o te Iwi continues and will be explored in this talk.
11am – 2.30pm Lightning Kōrero with Artists
Join Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery curators in quickfire conversations with artists featured in the exhibition Nō Konei | From Here, discussing their work in the show and what the kaupapa nō konei evokes for them. These talks will run for half an hour each, on the hour between 10am and 2.30pm on Sunday, 10 November in Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa.
11am – 12.30pm Whānau Fun in the Classroom
Every Sunday after opening for the month of November – for all ages
Drop into our new classroom and experience a range of fun, free, and easy activities for kids and grown-ups of all ages. Children under 10 must be supervised by an adult. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details about each day’s activity.
1pm – 2pm Kōrero Co-Design
Te Kāhui Toi o Tūpoho are Cecelia Kumeroa, Eugene Kara, Paul Millar, and Aaron Te Rangiao Gardiner. This group of designers was assembled to embed cultural expression and design elements for the new wing, Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa, and Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Tūpoho and the community. Learn more about their experience during this exciting kōrero with the team and Ralph Roberts from Warren and Mahoney, principal architect and lead designer for the redevelopment project.
2.30pm – 4pm Whānau Fun in the Classroom
Every Sunday after opening for the month of November – for all ages
Drop into our new classroom and experience a range of fun, free, and easy activities for kids and grown-ups of all ages. Children under 10 must be supervised by an adult. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details about each day’s activity.
3pm – 4pm Kōrero Waka
Join us for an enlightening panel discussion featuring renowned Māori artists and artisans as part of the grand reopening celebrations for the newly refurbished and earthquake-proof Sarjeant Gallery. This esteemed gallery, over 100 years old, now proudly showcases a significant sculptural work in the form of a traditional Māori waka bridge, symbolising the connection between the historic Sarjeant Gallery and its elegant new extension dedicated to Tā Archie Taiaroa.
The panel will include members from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, who were instrumental in the intricate carving of the waka bridge. They will share their expertise and cultural insights into the art of carving, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the traditional techniques and stories that inform their work.
Additionally, we will anticipate the participation of a skilled member from the timber joinery company that fabricated the waka from native tōtara timber, highlighting the craftsmanship and dedication required to bring this masterpiece to life.
Together, these creative experts will offer a unique perspective on the waka bridge’s conception and its significance as a cultural landmark, bridging the past and present. Join us for this special opportunity to engage with the artists behind this monumental project and gain insight into the rich traditions of Māori art and craftsmanship.
7.30pm – 11pm Rama: Light
After-dark light projections will illuminate the gallery, creating a captivating night-time experience, featuring works by Whanganui visual and moving image artists.
Pukenamu Drive will be one-way from Drews Ave to Cameron Terrace from Friday, 8 November evening to Monday, 11 November morning. Additional parking is available at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre (off Watt Street).