PROFILE

Will Ngakuru (b.1970, Irish, Te Roroa, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi), is a carver and artist who lives and works in Waimamaku, Hokianga, Northland. He attended the Elam School of Fine Arts where his research focused on indigenous governance, neo liberal policy and climate change. Will is passionate about mātauranga māori and his mahi toi is an ongoing and ever evolving endeavour to weave together whakapapa, whenua and community.

EDUCATION

University of Auckland
Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts (with Distinction) | 2013

• Elam School of Fine Arts

• Awarded an A+ grade with Distinction.

• Admitted directly into this postgraduate programme based on assessment of prior life experience and professional practice, in lieu of a standard undergraduate degree.

WORK HISTORY

2019 –2023-Self-employed artist at Building Wilderness

2015-2017 - Research management coordinator and advisor for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence at Te Roroa commercial development co

2010-11 Guest Tutor Northtec, Certificate in Applied Visual Arts

2010-2017 Kauri Dieback Governance Board member

2010-2017 Kauri Dieback Planning and Intelligence Team Member

2008-Current Founding Trustee, Sailing for Sustainability

2005-2019 Self – employed at Wakawhenua Hokianga, New Zealand

2005-2008 Trustee,Te Roroa Whatu Ora Trust (Tribal Council member)

2003-2006 Founding chairman Nga Kaitiaki Waka Ama Club, South Hokianga

1989-2000 Builder, experience in commercial, residential and rammed earth homes

PUBLIC WORKS

2025 -Completion of Matawhao Functional Kauri Fishing/ Sailing Waka

2022 - Toi whakairo, Manea Footprints of Kupe

2021 - Haumanu Installation, Auckland War Memorial Museum

2017 - Waipoua Waharoa/ Visitors Gateway

2013 - Shed 10 Refurbishment Auckland Viaduct

COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS

2022 Click bait, sculpture, Auckland War Memorial Collection

2013 Untitled, bronze sculpture, Ludbrook House, NZ

2010 Komsomolsk-on-Amur Fine Arts Museum, Far Eastern Russia

2007 Waka for Tourism New Zealand, presented to Japan in honor of 55 years of diplomatic

relations

2006 Waka Taua for Nelson Blue, New York, USA

EXXHIBITIONS

2015 A Delicate Balance/Rongo Taketake a Tane, Te Uru Gallery, Auckland ,NZ

2014 Tilt, Govett-Brewster Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ

2014 Kokiri Putahi National and International artists gathering Northland NZ

2013 Elam School of Fine Arts Graduates Show, University of Auckland, NZ

2013 Manataunga, Sir George Grey Special Collections exhibition, Auckland Library

2013 Shed 10 Refurbishment Auckland Viaduct

2013 Te Atinga 25 years, Mangare Arts centre, Auckland

2013 Toi Whakairo Waka, Kura Gallery,Auckland

2013 Wood Sculpture Live, Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna, Auckland

2012 Elam School of Fine Arts Graduates Show, University of Auckland, NZ

2012 Toi Whakairo Waka, Kura Gallery,Auckland

2012 Riverton Comunity art centre, Riverton, South Island, NZ

2012 Plenty more water in the tap,Northtec Tutors show, Hokianga Art Gallery

2012 Elam 4th year show, Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland, NZ

2012 Wallace Awards Finalist, Exhibit de refuses

2012 Festival of Pacific Arts, Solomon Islands

2012 Matariki Exhibition, Hokianga Art Gallery

2012 Generation, Father and Son Exhibition, Fresh Gallery, Otara NZ

2012 Whangarei Sculpture Symposium, Whangarei, NZ

2012 Ngapuhi Festival, Art Exhibition, Kaikohe, NZ

2012 Creating on Country reciprocal Exchange Tauwhara Marae Kaikohe NZ

2011 Converge (Father and Son Exhibition)

2011 Waka Maori, Artisans Village Exhibitor, Auckland Viaduct

2011 Maori Market Exhibitor, Wellington

2011 ‘Toi ki te Raki’ Taitokerau Maori Artist Collective Exhibit, Old Library , Whangarei

2011 Toi Whakairo Toru, Kura Gallery, Auckland

2011 Working Title Exhibition, North Tec Tutors Show, Rawene Art Gallery, Northland

2011 Matariki Exhibition, Rawene Art Gallery, Northland

2011 Wood Sculpture Live, Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna, Auckland

2011 Ngahuru, Te Ara Toi Gallery, Awanui, Northland

2011 Waitangi, Rawene Art Gallery, Northland

2011 Wrestling with the Spirits, Hastings City Art Gallery

2011 Te Toi Whakairo Rua, Kura Gallery, Auckland

2010 Cross Culture Creating on Country, Traveling Exhibition, Queensland, Australia

2010 2nd International Indigenous Arts Festival, Khabarovsk, Far Eastern Russia – 1st overall

woodcarver

2010 Whangarei Sculpture Symposium/Art auction, Whangarei, NZ

2010 Ngapuhi Festival, Art Exhibition, Kaikohe, NZ

2010 Te Tihi, Gathering of Indigenous Visual Arists, Rotorua, NZ

2009 Maori Market, Porirua, Wellington

2009 Koanga Exhibition, Hokianga Art Galley

2008 Contemporary Maori Artists, Lake House Arts Center

2008 Te Kahui o Matariki – North Shore City

2008 Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi Festival Exhibition

2007 Piko, Gathering of Indigenous Visual Arists – Waimea, Hawaii

2007 Atamira, Maori in the City – Auckland

2007 Te Matatini Inaugural Visual Arts Exhibition

2007 Hokianga Exhibition, Auckland City Libraries – Auckland

2007 Te Puia Weavers Celebration – Rotorua

2006 Toi Iho at Te Papa- Te Papa Tongarewa- Wellington

2006 Matariki, The Returning – Hokianga (co-curator)

2006 Te Atinga Maori Gathering – Matatina Marae at Waipoua

2006 Mahinga Kai, Tuatara Gallery – Whangarei (co-curator)

2006 Tiki Tour – Whangarei Art Museum

2005 Toi Iho Expo, Totem – Auckland

2005 Te Tau Ranga Toi Maori Exhibition, Touring

REPORTS

Ngakuru W, 2011. Draft report: Collation of historical information on early kauri plantations and nurseries to inform the kauri dieback long-term management programme.

Ngakuru W, Marsden 2010 Te Roroa effects assessment for kauri dieback disease – (Phytophthora taxon Agathis – PTA). Report prepared for Te Roroa and the Kauri Dieback Joint Agency Response by Wakawhenua

Ngakuru W, Te Roroa Effects Assessment re FNDC water extraction application Waiomarama. INTERVIEWS

2012 - TVNZ 60 Minutes Interview Kauri Diebank

2012 - TV 3 Thinktank Interview Kauri Diebank2012

2010 - TVNZ One “Are you my tribe” Interview

ARTICLES

2011 Northern News, About the Art, Working Title Exhibition review, Mike Nettmann

2011 Bay Chronicle (Matariki Exhibition)

2010 Dargaville District News Dec 22nd 2010

2008 Slide Longboard Magazine, ‘”Davey Briggs” (Volume 2, Issue 12, p.54-63)

2006 Dargaville News, “Waipoua Inspires Top Young Maori Artists” (Feb 1st issue)

Peer reviewed books, book chapters, books edited

Waipara N. Black A. Mark-Shadbolt M. Ngakuru W. Wood W 2017. Kia Toi tu He Kauri – Adaptive

Management of New Zealand Kauri (Agathis australis) by developing conventional forest biosecurity with indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. Accepted as chapter for publication in: Marzano M, Urquhart J, & Potter C. Human Dimensions of Forest and Tree Health: Global Perspectives. London: Palgrave-MacMillan

2008 Te Kahui O Matariki: Contemporary Artists of Matariki, ed. Libby Hakaraia & Colleen Waata Urlich (p. 66-67)