Porirua’s cultural heart, Pātaka Art + Museum, launched its autumn season over the weekend with the opening of three compelling exhibitions running until 6 July.
The showcase features Lovers & Castaways, a reflective dive into New Zealand’s art scene of the 1980s. Inspired by the influential 1980 book Contemporary New Zealand Painters by Jim and Mary Barr, the exhibition presents over 50 works from the Arts House Trust Collection. It highlights the decade’s artistic preoccupations and features iconic creators such as Gretchen Albrecht, Nigel Brown, Tony Fomison, Dick Frizzell and Ralph Hotere.
Artist Hemi Macgregor brings a meditative and spiritual perspective to the season with his solo exhibition Waiora. Blending painting, sculpture and installation, Macgregor’s work explores our relationship with natural elements and celestial realms. Through striking geometric structures, he delves into themes connecting humanity with te taiao (the natural world), te taimoana (the oceans), te taiwhenua (the land), and tātai tuarangi (the cosmos).
Meanwhile, Toloa Tales presents personal and poignant video works from Edith Amituanai and Sione Tuívailala Monū. The artists revisit their ancestral homeland of Samoa, sharing stories of reconnection through everyday life and cultural celebration. The exhibition offers an intimate lens on how the Pacific diaspora sustain identity and tradition after migrating to countries like Aotearoa, Australia, and the United States.
Adding to the creative energy this season, Arca Arcade: Round One will open on 12 April and run through to 22 June.
Pātaka’s autumn lineup reinforces its role as a cornerstone of Porirua’s cultural community—inviting residents and visitors alike to engage with powerful stories of identity, place, and expression.