“The whare is the coolest of spaces, what I really love about it is the way you both talk about the whare as our space, encouraging me to make myself at home. There was never a feel of this is your space that I am coming into and using your stuff or wasting your resources. Also, both so sharing with your knowledge and experience.”
- Anon
“What has changed for me? Belief in self and a willingness to give things a go. Discovery or a reawakening of creativity.”
- Anon
“I’ve tried everything, had a tutu with just about everything and it’s been incredibly good fun, brought so much laughter and joy, great learning and awesome heart, wairua, tinana, hinengaro filling!
- Tuihana
Snapshots of Creativity and Connection
Our Vision
To provide creative spaces and places for adults to play, share, learn and engage in the creative process, encouraging connection and creativity.
What is Whare Hau Tutū?
Whare Hau Tutū [the Whare] is a space, that is fully resourced with resources, tools and equipment to play and create to your hearts content. From leatherwork to painting, to block/lino printing to jewellery making to collage to sewing, to design to screen-printing to anything you can conjure up. We supply some new, recycled and sustainable resources and welcome koha to supply creativity at its fullest!
Creativity with purpose and process without intention
The process of walking through the door, to picking up a pencil, a paintbrush, a needle, a knife. The process of sitting, having a cup of tea, talking, sharing, listening, playing.
That as adults we sometimes forget to do, to play, to create and to connect. We are here to inspire whānau to consider taking a chance on themselves, and taking that first step to walk in the door, go 'what the heck is this place' and feel the magic that evolves!
“Creativity is rongoā; it is indeed a medicine that brings together all people and needs to be nourished.”
– Anonymous
Our Story
In 2021, creatives and longtime friends of 30+ years, Julz Nonoa [Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Tangahoe, Ngaruahine, Tainui] and Kiri Leach [Ngati Konohi, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti], began a journey of exploring the foundations for Whare Hau Tutū, that was kaupapa Māori, for everyone.
Based on the premise of whanaungatanga, Julz and Kiri undertook several projects to not only test and cement friendships in work but also lead and be a part of projects that contributed to our collective values and intent of connection and building the capacity of our communities.
This was to set the basis of establishing our vision and values for Whare Hau Tutū.
The image is of us at Healing Our Spirits Worldwide Conference in Vancouver, Canada in 2023, where we knew we just had to say YES and do this.
Meet Julz
Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Tangahoe, Ngāruahine, Tainui
Raranga Harakeke
Raranga Korero
Raranga Tangata
Julz has a passion and drive for Te Ao Raranga me Te Reo Raranga at whānau, hāpu and Iwi levels. With a commitment to continue this normalisation, from the use of muka at birth to tie the pito, to the revitalisation of whariki for our marae and the purakau woven through them all.
Julz brings 17yrs of experience working in Social Services, Whānau Ora, Family Violence, and the wellbeing space for our tamariki and mokopuna.
Julz currently sits on the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa Committee, under the umbrella of Toi Māori. Julz has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the Kaitiakitanga Kaupapa within the TORO Academy 3D Animation and Production Pilot Programme.
Julz works from a place of acknowledging that we each arrive at this moment with a full kete of knowledge to share with each other, strengthening the ‘strands that are’.
Meet Kiri
Ngāti Konohi me Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti
Kiri has an extensive background in business, operations, project management, service development and management with 20 years of experience in Māori Public Health and social services sector.
She combines her professional expertise with her passion for the creative arts. Kiri is dedicated to enhancing the capabilities and capacity of whānau and hapori, land more recently has worked with 12 iwi of Te Tai Tokerau to form an Iwi-Māori Partnership Board to build health equity in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Mākaurau.
Kiri’s commitment to programme design and development focuses on fostering confidence and resilience within teams and whānau. She has significantly contributed to initiatives over the last 20 years in health and animation and production.
Now the other Kiri, is a nānā, a māmā, a sister and daughter of a crazy blended whānau. A tutū by nature and connector by manawatanga. Foggy brain and giggles are a must, with a coupley colourful words in the mix. 90s RnB is her vibe and creative tech is her playground.
