Ngā Tae o Te Taiao; Painting with Natural Pigments

About this programme:

How did tūpuna Māori use natural resources to share their stories? 

In this hands-on workshop, ākonga will explore the traditional practice of painting with natural pigments and discover examples of Māori Rock Art around Aotearoa. During a guided hikoi through the gallery, students draw inspiration from Wharehoka Smith’s wall-based painting Kūreitanga II IV and the work of Len Lye. Together, they will consider how these works connect with creative knowledge passed down through generations. 

At the meeting point of creativity and scientific processes, ākonga will make natural paints using earth pigments and charcoal. They will learn about the tikanga of gathering kōkōwai and kerewhenua, and discover how fire can transform materials. Using their handmade paints, ākonga will experiment with mark-making techniques and explore kōwhaiwhai patterns and the meanings they carry.

This hands-on lesson invites playful experimentation grounded in ancestral knowledge.

Bring your ākonga on a journey through time and inspire them to carry this treasured creative practice forward.