Lalaga: Le Hui Fono – Opening Day

On 5 November 2024, the artists and community gathered at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to celebrate the opening of Lalaga: Le Hui Fono.

Emerging from an ongoing commitment to deepen relationships of collaboration, mutual support, and reciprocity between Pasifika artists and communities in Taranaki and across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, Lalaga: Le Hui Fono, draws on the rich legacy of creative practices that have flourished across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

The exhibition seeks to weave together new and existing connections and investigate the role and responsibility of art institutions in responding to and being shaped by the aspirations of local communities.

Since its inception in 2022, the Lalaga project has been guided by Theresa Tongi, the Gallery’s Pacific Public Program Coordinator, Ruha Fifita, Govett-Brewster Pacific Curator at Large and the Gallery’s Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Advisory Group.