Neke Moa at Auckland Art Gallery

You know that feeling when an entire room leans in, holding its breath?

Well that was the energy at Toi o Tāmaki (Auckland Art Gallery) on Sunday, as Neke Moa (Te Whare a Papaīra, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Ahuriri, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) lifted her kōauau to her lips.

The soft, melodic notes filled the auditorium, signaling the start of something special.

Neke Moa, the 2025 senior artist for the Te Tīmatanga residency with Auckland Pride Festival, took us into her realm, one where art isn’t about aesthetics, but a practice that seeks to promote hauora by deepening connections between tāngata, tohunga and atua.

Using materials gifted from the taiao, Neke weaves together history and contemporary design, carrying forward pūrākau, lovingly shared by her partner, Paula Conroy.

This lecture was a full on masterclass in presence. Neke was generous in sharing details around her works, international collaborations and her upcoming mahi in Munich with fellow adornment artists, Sofia Tekela-Smith and Stevei Houkāmau and happily rounded off the talk with an informal Q+A session.

If you want to experience Neke’s artistry in real life (and trust me, you do), head to Mana Tipua Tuku Iho at Season Gallery (Feb 2–9).
After that, she and Paula are off home to Ōtaki to prep for Munich Jewellery Week 2025.

Instagram @nekemoa 

Glossary of te reo Māori in text:
Atua ~ deities
Hauora ~ wellbeing
Kōauau ~ flute
Mhi ~ work
Mauri ~ life force
Pūrākau ~ stories
Taiao ~ natural world
Tāngata ~ people
Tohunga ~ experts