Powerful expressions of emotion, whakapapa, and cultural identity are on full display in many of the entries already received in this year’s E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025.
Check out the gallery of entries received so far.
Judges Miriama Grace-Smith, Kahurangi Falaoa and Stu McDonald are loving the creativity of entries in response to the competition theme Ko wai au? Who am I? They’re encouraging more whānau to have a go and enter their artwork before the competition closes at noon this Sunday, September 14.
More information for anyone still wanting to enter is below or on the E Tū Whānau website.
Miriama Grace-Smith
Kāpiti based artist, muralist and fashion designer Miriama Grace-Smith loves exploring different creative outlets and blending toi Māori with contemporary styles.
Regardless of which medium she uses, Miriama is always inspired by her whakapapa and the world around her. Many entrants in the poster competition 2025 share the same inspiration.
“Artists are sharing personal stories and perspectives. They’re using creativity to show who they are and how they see themselves. I’m seeing some powerful expressions of emotion, whakapapa, and cultural identity. I just want to see more from our talented whānau out there.”
Miriama says posters, like murals, are public facing works that carry meaning and reflect what the artist wants to put out into the world.
“When I start a mural, for example, I aim to capture the viewer’s attention through colour, imagery, and composition in a way that invites them to pause, think, and wonder about the story behind the work. My goal is for each mural to spark curiosity and create a connection with the viewer,” she says.
Kahurangi Falaoa
Like Miriama, multi-talented Tūwharetoa artist and teacher Kahurangi Falaoa knows there is a lot of talent out there and he wants to see more. He’s enjoying the different ways competition entrants explore who they are as artists through their connection to the world around them.
“Whānau bring their physical, spiritual and emotional selves to the work. Their beliefs, their strength and vulnerability are all there, and that’s exciting.”
Kahurangi is assistant principal at Manutuke Kura-a-Iwi in Gisborne and is well known as a logo designer. He designed the 2025 Māori All Blacks jersey, the E Tū Whānau logo and tohu for many other kaupapa Māori initiatives. He’s also a tā moko artist, a haka composer, rugby coach and exponent of whakairo (carving).
He says that the diversity of images already entered into the poster competition 2025 is a rich and beautiful reminder of how different people, of different ages and from different rohe, view the world.
“If you only look at the world through one set of eyes, you only get one perspective. If you look through many sets of eyes you get a richer understanding of the world all around you.”
Stu McDonald
Internationally renowned Tauranga tā moko artist and educator Stu McDonald is a founding member of the Ahipoutu Collective – a tā moko studio and centre of learning incorporating toi Maori design and wellbeing.
“This competition gives whānau the space to tell their own stories in their own way.
Looking at these entries, I’m reminded of how fundamental and nourishing story telling is to art and to our expression of individual, whānau and cultural identity.
I’m always encouraged when I see rangatahi and tamariki in particular being themselves, being creative and feeling comfortable enough in their own culture to artistically answer the question at the heart of this competition’s kaupapa – ‘Ko wai au? Who am I.’”
Entry to the E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025 closes on Sunday
- The theme of E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025 is “Ko wai au? Who am I”. Itcelebrates identity and connection.
- Anyone with a passion for art can enter by designing an A4 or A3 poster inspired by the theme.
- Whānau, supporters and the general public can view entries in the Competition Gallery.
- Voting for the People’s Choice Award opens at noon on 15 September and closes at noon on 19 September.
- People can vote once for all their favourite entries. All voters will go into the draw to win a gift card prize.
- All winners will be announced on the E Tū Whānau Facebook page at noon on 26 September.
Easy online entry
Entry is easy via the E Tū Whānau website.
Entrants are encouraged to read the Competition information and rules first.
There are three entry categories. All winners will receive awesome gift card prizes which can be used to pay for anything from art supplies and creative tech tools to travel and accommodation for art wānanga or research valued at:
A People’s Choice Award will go to the entry that receives the most votes, and voters also all go into a draw to win a gift card prize.
All winners will be announced on the E Tū Whānau Facebook page at noon on 26 September.
Want more?
Read what the winners of E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 had to say about their entries.
Get to know Kasi Valu, the open category winner and Kyllah Iousa, the junior category winner of the E Tūi Whānau Spoken Word Competition 2021
