Juanita Crawford, Ngāti Porou, Tuhoe, Te Arawa

2025 Graduate - Maunga Kura Toi, Bachelor of Māori Visual Art with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa - Toimairangi.  My mahi toi during this degree has been a healing journey and one of fully realizing the healing benefits of being a practitioner of Maori Visual Arts.

My kaupapa mahi toi compels me to explore, discover and implement love and light where there was once  grief and sorrow-this has allowed me to heal and transform myself and my practice and development as a tauira (student) looking to the future as an artist.

For me Te Ao Maori values and narratives within this movement have brought to fruition all the many repositories and connections of my Whakapapa, Matauranga and Whanau values while navigating my creative journey.  Growing up in Maunga Wharau (Havelock North) has fostered an inner resilience. This is home and an integral part of my practice as an emerging artist in Ngati Kahungungu.

Toi Te Mana

Uplift the prestige

Toi Te Whenua

Honor the land

Toi Nga Mahi Toi

Esteem the arts

Toi Te Tangata

Empower the people