The exhibition, Toi Rama – Inspiring Tamariki Through Art, opened on 16 October. The artworks are being shown in the Artslink area between Pātaka’s Spine and Performing Arts Studio.

The children spent terms two and three taking part in activities organised by Pātaka’s education team. Their experiences included exploring exhibitions, artworks and taonga at Pātaka, visiting environmental sites around the Wellington region and hearing from mana whenua at cultural locations across Porirua.

Those visits became the starting point for the art they have made. Rather than concentrating only on a finished picture, the programme connects the process of making art with wellbeing and with the places and people that matter to the children.

Pātaka describes the resulting artworks as expressions of where the pupils live, their relationships with the environment, their connections with one another and how they see themselves as artists. The children used a variety of artistic techniques and processes to develop their work.

Among the pieces Pātaka has highlighted is a mandala created by Cannons Creek School pupils. The programme also included a cyanotype art activity, with Graley Plastics and Laser Cutting providing sponsorship for that part of the project.

This is the second year of Toi Rama. Its pilot was held in 2024 with Year 5 and 6 pupils from Porirua East School, whose work was displayed at Pātaka from November 2024 into February 2025. The first programme also drew on local art, cultural experiences and environmental visits to help pupils make work about themselves and their surroundings.

For the 2026 programme, Pātaka has acknowledged support from Cannons Creek School, Enviroschools, Zealandia, Porirua City Council teams and Graley Plastics and Laser Cutting.

The exhibition gives families, classmates and other residents an opportunity to see work by young Porirua artists in a public gallery. Pātaka is at the corner of Norrie and Parumoana streets in central Porirua. Its galleries are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, and admission is free.