Behind every successful pakihi Māori is a kaupapa bigger than business itself. For Wairau Māori Art Gallery, that kaupapa is about creating space for Māori creativity, identity, and storytelling.

Situated within the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangārei, Wairau Māori Art Gallery operates independently under Māori leadership, with mana motuhake at the centre of everything it does. The gallery ensures Māori art and Māori voices have a permanent, dedicated space within one of Te Tai Tokerau’s most significant cultural developments.

For Te Ringa Hautu Toi/Director Larissa McMillan, the mahi is about much more than exhibitions on walls. It is about creating pathways for rangatahi, supporting Māori artists, and ensuring tamariki can see themselves reflected in spaces of creativity and excellence.

“One of the things we’re most proud of is our outreach to kura and rangatahi across the region,” says Larissa. “Engaging young people with professional artists helps them see that a career in the arts is possible, because you can’t be what you can’t see.”

Like many arts and kaupapa Māori organisations; sustainable funding remains a challenge in an ever changing landscape of support for the arts in Aotearoa. Staying grounded  in kaupapa Māori values and community aspirations is key to the vision.

But Wairau Māori Art Gallery’s story is also a reminder that pakihi Māori do not need to fit traditional business moulds to create impact. Success can look like strengthening identity, nurturing creativity, building representation, and creating opportunities for others to follow.

The gallery’s commitment to whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga shapes everything from governance through to artist relationships and community engagement. It is a model based not just in economic outcomes, but in cultural responsibility and intergenerational thinking.

For Māori considering stepping into business, there is a powerful lesson in Wairau Māori Art Gallery’s journey: start with your values and let them guide your direction. A strong kaupapa builds resilience, attracts the right people, and creates deeper impact within communities.

As Larissa reflects, the future vision is steady but ambitious, continuing to grow outreach opportunities, strengthen connections with kura and rangatahi, and expand opportunities for Māori artists both within Te Tai Tokerau and beyond.