Celebrated arts organisation Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust loses main funding source after 40 years

‘Deeply disappointing’

Tautai operations director Dr Olivia Laita said the funding outcome was “deeply disappointing”.

She posted a statement online confirming the loss of CNZ funding beyond 2026.

One of Samoan artist Fatu Feu’u’s artworks displayed at the Rotorua Museum in 2003. The artwork is called Fa’aola mo taeao – conserve for tomorrow. Photo / Kelvin Teixeira

“This funding decision marks a significant turning point for Tautai,” she wrote.

“Our board and team have been taking the time to absorb what this decision means for our organisation, our artists and the communities we serve … we will be reviewing what this means for Tautai’s future.”

Tautai has been a touchstone for many New Zealand-based Pacific artists and creatives since its founding in the 1980s by Samoan contemporary artist Papali’i Fatu Feu’u.

His goal was to support and promote Pacific visual artists while inspiring the next generation. At the time, he had been inspired by artist Colin McCahon.

Feu’u told the Herald he was still an emerging artist when another Kiwi artist and friend, Tony Fomison, introduced him to McCahon.

Samoan artist Papali’i Fatu Feu’u, pictured in 2010, started the Tautai Pacific Contemporary Arts Trust to help showcase and inspire Pacific artists. Photo / Kellie Blizard

“I was so lucky. I was told I was the only Pacific artist who ever met McCahon before he passed away.

“He said: ‘We are waiting for you, Pacific artists, to make a contribution to the New Zealand art scene’. And here we are after 40 years.

“In the last 10 years, I’ve said to my friends: ‘I think we’ve done it – we’ve fulfilled his request’.”

‘Heartbreaking’ for next generation of Pacific artists

Artist Michel Tuffery, born in Wellington, described the news about the trust as “heartbreaking”.

He remembers being a young artist, in the late 1980s, trying to get a break in the art world after studying at Otago’s School of Fine Arts.

He and fellow artist Lyle Penisula had their first exhibitions at what was then the Fale Samoa on Karangahape Rd, Auckland, thanks to Tautai.

Michel Tuffery pictured with some of his works in 2008. Photo / Andrew Bonallack

“It’s done so much for all of us … not just for starting artists’ careers, but also as an opportunity to meet the old ones.”

Tuffery has since completed many international art projects and is working on a piece for a war memorial in France. In 2008, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to art.

He said Pacific art was still undervalued and it would be a huge loss if Tautai could not continue after this year.

“We’re denying that chance for those young ones … the new ones that are coming through – my heart goes out to them.”

He said there was a huge demand for Pasifika in the art scene worldwide and encouraged budding creatives to continue their work.

Manu Aute Rua (kite) created by artist Michel Tuffery. Photo / Rosalie Willis

“That’s why you need Tautai – so we don’t limit ourselves here to Aotearoa, because the world wants us.

“We can see from the Western perspective, but we can also go back to our Samoan or Cook Islands side. That’s our luxury,” he said.

Father and son Lyle Penisula (left) and Johnny Penisula in February, 2007. They are among Pacific artists who have been supported by Tautai over the years. Photo / Babiche Martens

In 2020, then Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern officially opened Tautai’s new gallery on Karangahape Rd, which showcases art and exhibitions by Pasifika artists year-round.

‘Quality of applications high’

CNZ told the Herald in a statement that its arts organisation and groups fund is a contestable fund and applications are assessed on their merits.

“The quality of applications was exceptionally high, with demand for funding significantly exceeding the available support.

Then Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern, also Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister, opens the Tautai Gallery in Auckland in July 2020. Photo / Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts

“At the same time, we are also navigating a constrained financial environment, managing reduced Government funding alongside a static lotteries funding path.

“We … remain committed to supporting Pacific arts and artists in our ongoing work,” the spokeswoman said.

Feu’u is now 80 years old, a grandfather and great-grandfather. He is still creating artworks – albeit with the left hand helping to lift the right hand, armed with a paintbrush, because of a shoulder injury.

“It’s a slow process, but I’m still painting.”

He hopes young Pasifika will continue to look to the arts for a career and life purpose, he said.

“We believe in the arts. It can help heal the soul and get careers for a lot of young people. We can’t all be All Blacks and great athletes. So we turn to art to make a living.”

Another hit to Pacific arts

The news comes after organisers of another well-established Pacific arts entity recently called for donations as it grappled with financial issues.

Organisers of the Pacific Music Awards published a plea on Facebook, Instagram and its website in July, asking for public donations starting at $10.

The awards have run continuously since 2005, attracting audiences to its often televised and livestreamed ceremony.

The Pacific Music Awards is under similar financial pressure. Some of the Pacific’s most well-known musicians have appeared at the awards over the past 22 years.

“For 21 years, the Pacific Music Awards have been celebrating our artists, songwriters, producers and music,” trustee and event producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena said.

“A number of factors [are] impacting the financial sustainability of the awards, not to mention the fact that public arts funding has been significantly cut, so the agencies that have long backed Pacific music now have less to give.

“This year, amongst continuing to look for sponsorship, we’re doing what our Pacific people have always done – turning to each other.”

Togi-Sa’ena told the Herald “it’s really survival mode each year”.

Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.