When a student is named Toihoukura’s very best, it brings with it more than just extra kudos.

For Kingi Pitiroi, a graduate of both the Toihoukura School of Māori Visual Art Te Toi o Ngā Rangi: Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts and Studio Workshop Certificate programmes, it symbolised that all he has worked for and achieved as a student has been recognised and acknowledged.                                                                                                                         

The Ruānuku (top student) award was presented to Pitiroi as the pinnacle prize of the Professor Jack Richards Scholarships, which were awarded at the Tairawhiti Museum and Arts Centre, as part of the Toi Ora exhibition opening.

Kingi, as Ruānuku, will provide an art piece to the museum which will join the permanent contemporary Māori collection of the museum.

Other scholarship recipients were year one degree students Tihirua Putaka and Jacob Wilkins-Hodges, year two degree students Waitangi Kupenga, Alex McMenamin, Tawai Williams, Manukorihi Winiata and Toni Sadlier, and year three degree student Steve Smith.

Associate Professor and principal tutor Steve Gibbs described the relationship between Professor Richards and Toihoukura as very special.

It had been sparked nearly 20 years ago when Richards had seen a Toihoukura exhibition and been inspired to provide scholarships to ensure talented, budding Māori artists of the Tairawhiti district had the opportunity to further develop their artistic talents.

The top student is one deemed to be the best across all areas of cultural and academic endeavor.

“Kingi is a student who represents a pathway we would like all Toihoukura students to travel,” says Gibbs. “He approaches everything from multi-faceted angles that cover culture, teaching and the community.  All these components are afforded equal attention and importance. His art is the core of what he does, but he brings everything together with cohesion and class.”

Pitiroi said it had been thanks to his tutors, particularly Derek Lardelli, that he excelled.

When he started at Toihoukura, he had just lost his mother, and was “a bit lost”.

“Toihoukura helped me back,” he said.

“This award is reassurance that I am on the right track. Just being involved in Toihoukura and the number of kaupapa in which I have participated, has made me realise my passion for the arts has developed into something bigger than myself.”

He looks at tā moko as a way of giving back to his people.

“My aim is to benefit the art form and culture, and help develop it further.”

The Professor Jack Richards scholarships provided $10,000 in 2012 which is gratefully acknowledged by Toihoukura staff, students and EIT.