Toi MAHARA

Toi MAHARA is the district public gallery for the Kāpiti Coast. It stands in pride of place in the heart of Waikanae in a purpose-built building designed by Athfield Architects. The building in itself is a marvel, with many details that represent various art forms.

The building consists of four galleries, each with its individual purpose. In the entrance, just past the beautifully curated gallery store, exists the Waipuna Toi | Community Space. Here, local organisations exhibit their works to the joy of the wider community. Expect these exhibits to change frequently and offer wonderful insights into the emerging talent in the Kāpiti district.

Further along in the other downstairs space sits the larger Te Manawa Toi | Coastlands Gallery. This gallery showcases exhibitions of local and national artists, presenting contemporary art in thoughtful, engaging, and challenging ways. Upstairs, the Ringa Toi | Artists’ Gallery, which is a smaller, more intimate space, showcases work by artists with local connections.

And last, but by no means least, the Taonga Tuku Iho | Heritage Gallery shows work with connections to the Field Collection, now in its permanent home in the gallery, which is a collection of 44 works, 24 of them paintings by Frances Hodgkins (1869–1947), considered New Zealand’s most significant expatriate artist. It is the largest collection of Hodgkins’ work outside Te Papa Tongarewa and city collections in Dunedin, Auckland and Christchurch. The Field Collection has a national reputation and is the subject of regular requests for loans for exhibitions by other institutions, as well as study access from scholars and art historians from within New Zealand and overseas. The collection can be viewed by appointment with the Heritage Curator.     

The mission of Toi MAHARA is to reflect the diverse Kāpiti communities, offer life-enriching art experiences, present heritage and contemporary art and offer opportunities for enjoyment, discovery and learning. Throughout the year, the gallery hosts various events for people of all ages. For these, make sure to check the Toi MAHARA website and social media.