Nikau Hindin

(Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngai Tūpoto)

2014 recipient of the Sir Hugh Kawharu Auckland Museum Scholarship.

Te rae o Kawharu

He kotuku rerenga tahi

The prominent brow of Kawharu

A rare white heron seen only once in a lifetime

Sir Hugh Kawharu was involved with the Auckland Museum’s governance for over 30 years and the architect of the Taumata-ā-Iwi, the legislated Māori advisory board to the Museum’s Trust Board.

The Sir Hugh Kawharu Scholarship is offered by the Kawharu Foundation in partnership with the Auckland Museum and its Ko Tawa Endowment, established in the mid-2000s by Sir Hugh and Professor Paora Tapsell.

The Scholarship comprises a grant of $10,000. In addition, the Foundation in partnership with the Museum may assist in arranging the appointment of an academic mentor for the duration of the candidate’s studies. It is anticipated that the candidate will undertake a research project which will form part of their university studies and contribute to completion of their degree.

The core objective of the Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation is to support emerging Māori leadership. Previous recipients include:

• Nikau Hindin (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) (tapa beating) (2014)

• Ngahuia Murphy (PhD, mana wahine) (2015)

• Lizzy Myers (PhD, marine ecology) (2016)

• Kayreen Riana Tapuke (MSc, research award)

• Tracy Maniapoto (PhD, te reo Māori revitalisation)

• Elisha Rolleston (Master of Arts – Māori and Indigenous Studies, MSc Wintec) (2022)

Successful candidate 2015

Nikau Hindin

The Scholarship supported her honours degree in Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, where she studied and revived the art of making aute (Māori barkcloth). Nikau continues to practise her art, which has been widely exhibited throughout Aotearoa and internationally.

Please see Nikau’s works and processes, and enjoy a recent video of her talking about Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art: previous at the Auckland Art Gallery Sat 5 Dec 2020 — Sun 9 May 2021.