Welcome to Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts
Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts is a public art gallery for Auckland City.
Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts is a nationally significant art gallery presenting exhibitions and projects by New Zealand and international artists. Te Tuhi works actively within the community of Auckland, providing a conduit for audience engagement and participation in the visual arts, underpinned by innovative exhibitions, education and associated programmes. In addition, the Centre serves as a focal point for the community as an events venue and meeting place for our many users and community groups.
History
Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts was created in a partnership between the Fisher Gallery and the Pakuranga Community and Cultural Centre, the latter formally a Manukau City Council facility.
The Fisher Gallery had been created in the early 1980's by a dedicated and energetic group of local art lovers, who had decided that the area, only recently subdivided for residential use, needed an arts venue. The Fisher Gallery took its name from the Fisher family, who farmed the area prior to its suburbanisation and Iris Fisher, who was an original member of the Pakuranga Arts Society and the driving force behind the effort to build the new institution.
The name Te Tuhi was generously conferred on the institution by the Ngai Tai Iwi. The name refers to the legend of the ancestor Manawatere, a Maori voyager and explorer who arrived in the Hauraki Gulf prior to the arrival of the Tainui waka. Landing at the beach at Howick's Cockle Bay, he made his tuhi, or mark, on a pohutukawa tree located on the foreshore, using karamea, a red ochre. This was his sign to those who would follow, that this was the place he had chosen - 'Te Tuhi a Manawatere'. The tree still stands today, although the tuhi has since disappeared.
Te Tuhi is administered by the Eastern Manukau Arts Trust in conjunction with the Pakuranga Arts and Cultural Trust.
Te Tuhi's yearly performance report to Auckland Council
Download performance report (PDF)
Supporters
Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts is generously supported by the Auckland Council
We thank InfoAge Business Development Ltd for their sponsorship of the Te Tuhi database system.
Plan your visit
Find out where we are, when we open, and the easiest way to get here by car or bus
Te Tuhi cafe
Voted Best Cafe in Pakuranga by Metro for the past 5 years running. Located in the Te Tuhi foyer, the Te Tuhi Café serves a great range of fresh, delicious food baked and prepared daily on the premises, as well as wonderful Allpress Espresso coffee.
The café is open weekdays 9.00am to 3.00pm and 10.00am to 2.00pm Saturdays. The kitchen closes daily at 2pm.
The cafe is closed over the Christmas / New Year period reopening on Wednesday 18 January 2012.
For all reservations and catering enquiries please contact Penny at the Te Tuhi Café on (09) 577 4044.
Support us
Become a friend of te Tuhi and enjoy the benefits of membership
