Held across multiple locations including Whareroa Marae and Reserve, Mount Maunganui, and both Kuwao Collective and Toi Tauranga POP UP, Tauranga Moana. We welcomed indigenous artists from Marquesas Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Mo’orea, Tuamotu Archipelago, Tahiti Islands, Taveuni (Fiji), Filipino (Philippines), First Nations America and Canada - Nisenan, Seneca, Acjachmen, Mutsun Ohlone, Nomtipom, Tunai Wintu, Chemehuevi, Nisenan, Koyoomk’awi, Saginaw Chippewa, Kanienkeha, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe, Nlaka’pamux, and Haida Gwaii - Kūki Āirani (Tumutevarovaro, and Araura Enua, Cook Islands), Niue, Paiwan Taiwan, Samoa, Solomon Islands, India, Ecuador and Tangata Whenua Māori representing iwi from across the whenua. Nau mai!

Toi Kiri: Wānanga Ngā Uri o Muturangi affirms ancient ancestral connections through Muturangi centred around customary Māori skin marking, tattoo-tatau and art practices, continuing to represent the strengthening of the bonds that Māori have with indigenous peoples throughout history and the world. This tradition, since 2019, has provided indigenous body marking and cultural tattoo practitioners the opportunity to reflect, learn, collaborate and strategise in the development of their cultural arts through the strengthening of our indigenous relationships.

Toi Kiri: Festival opens the artists space to a public shared indigenous cultural arts festival, presenting over 200 artists, together for one unique public cultural event, Toi Kiri's three-day public festival returns bigger than ever at Whareroa Reserve, Mount Maunganui. Gathering Tā Tatau, Tā Moko and Skin Marking Artists, alongside Cultural Artists, Musicians, Performers and Kai. Celebrate together and enjoy unique expressions of the world at Toi Kiri 2023. Toi Kiri continues to engage participation of  Tā Tatau, Tā Moko (Māori), indigenous practices, cultural arts, music and food to such a high level presented to a broad community and widespread audience.

Toi Kiri: Exhibition ‘Te Kahu o Toi Kiri’ showcases the art of our artist participants of Toi Kiri 2023: World Indigenous Arts Festival. Te Kahu o Toi Kiri explores the dialogue between the exercise of skin marking and a range of cultural art practices, customary and contemporary, presenting the ‘cloak’ of indigenous body marking traditions.

Toi Kiri: Symposium is held alongside ‘Te Kahu o Toi Kiri’ exhibition presenting a range of cultural arts workshops, forum, presentations and discussions by artists including Peata Larkin, Alexis Neal, Heidi Lucero, Tiffany Adams, Gregory Williams, Dion Kaszas, Ecko Aleck, Natalia Roxas, Kiana and Daniel Ormsby, Hohepa (Hori) Thompson, Linda Munn, Kereama Taepa, Arohanoa Mathews, Sarah Hudson, Lanae Cable, Maraea Timutimu, Manutea Chartiez, Michalik Mate, and myself, Julie Paama-Pengelly.