With the 2026 General Election less than two months away, an exhibition of new whakairo by NGAROMA RILEY and new paintings by TAWHAI RICKARD is timely.
As part of the wave of wāhine carvers who are reclaiming space in whakairo, Ngaroma Riley has created seven sculptures, each in the form of a tekoteko or carved human figure.
Tawhai Rickard’s contribution to the kaupapa is a series of fifteen carved, painted and politically charged Victorian playing cards; artworks that have become one of his signatures.
The exhibition’s title, Pōnga Rā / when will you walk with me, is a reference to a Rob Ruha song, lyrically inspired by a historical Ngāti Porou protest haka from 1888.
Ngaroma Riley‘s seven carved figures are on a hīkoi (protest) and include family members, tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti.
She writes:
“I remember going on hīkoi with my Māori mother and Pākehā father, because protesting injustice has always been a family affair. This exhibition is my response to a government whose policies seek to diminish the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and undermine Māori representation”.
In the Spring 2025 issue of Art Collector magazine, Curator Nigel Borell discusses Tawhai Rickard‘s exploration of the figurative painted meeting houses of the East Coast – houses whose decorations were created under the leadership of 19th century Māori prophet Te Kooti.
“Under Te Kooti’s leadership”, Borell writes, “Māori adopted all manner of Western-influenced art traditions including naturalism, literal depictions of people and place, and narratives that were political statements about British colonisation.”
“Like Te Kooti’s meeting houses [Rickard’s] work makes polemic statements about the predicament of Māori people today, especially under the current political regime”.
Photographer: Kallan MacLeod
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata
2026
Installation view
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Manukura / Leader (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
pohutukawa, tī kouka, matai, paua shell, acrylic paint
300mm H x 200mm W x 120mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Manukura / Leader (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
pohutukawa, tī kouka, matai, paua shell, acrylic paint
300mm H x 200mm W x 120mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata (detail)
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Pakeke me mokopuna / Adult and child (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
tōtara, macrocarpa, textile flag, dowel, nylon, dacron, wool, acrylic paint
290mm H x 300mm W x 120mm D (as installed, excluding flag)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Pakeke me mokopuna / Adult and child (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
tōtara, macrocarpa, textile flag, dowel, nylon, dacron, wool, acrylic paint
290mm H x 300mm W x 120mm D (as installed, excluding flag)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata (detail)
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Tupuna / Elder (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
black walnut, feijoa sellowiana,beef bone, jute, tī kouka, paua shell, acrylic paint
310mm H x 170mm W x 150mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Tupuna / Elder (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
black walnut, feijoa sellowiana,beef bone, jute, tī kouka, paua shell, acrylic paint
310mm H x 170mm W x 150mm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Tangata Moana / Pacific Partner (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
tōtara, seagrass, coconut fibre, cotton textile flag, dowel, bamboo, waxed cord, acrylic paint
300mm H x 140mm W x 150mm D (excluding banner)
NR-2026-05
Ngaroma Riley
Tangata Moana / Pacific Partner (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
tōtara, seagrass, coconut fibre, cotton textile flag, dowel, bamboo, waxed cord, acrylic paint
300mm H x 140mm W x 150mm D (excluding banner)
NR-2026-05
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata (detail)
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Tangata Tiriti / Tiriti Partner (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
tōtara, tartan fabric, buckle, cotton textile flag, dowel, bamboo, waxed cord, acrylic paint
300mm H x 150mm W x 130mm D (excluding banner)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Tangata Tiriti / Tiriti Partner (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
tōtara, tartan fabric, buckle, cotton textile flag, dowel, bamboo, waxed cord, acrylic paint
300mm H x 150mm W x 130mm D (excluding banner)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata (detail)
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Taiohi / Young Person (Hikoi ki Pāremata)
2026
tōtara, muka dyed with raurēkau, dowel, macrocarpa, hue (gourd), acrylic paint
300mm H x 165mm W x 150mm D (excluding flag)
NR-2026-07
Ngaroma Riley
Taiohi / Young Person (Hikoi ki Pāremata) (detail)
2026
tōtara, muka dyed with tanekaha, dowel, macrocarpa, hue (gourd), acrylic paint
300mm H x 165mm W x 150mm D (excluding flag)
NR-2026-07
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata
2026
Installation viedw
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Te Wherowhero – King of Needle and Threads
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 420mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
George Grey – King of Blood Diamonds
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 415mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Joker: Christopher Luxon – Fani Choker
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 420mm W (frame)
TR-2026-12
Tawhai Rickard
Joker: Shane Jones – Dig Baby Dig
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
535mm H x 420mm W (frame)
TR-2026-07
Tawhai Rickard
Christopher Luxon – Coalition King
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 420mm W (frame)
TR-2026-08
Tawhai Rickard
Judith Collins – Crusher Queen
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 420mm W (frame)
TR-2026-11
Tawhai Rickard
Tawhiao – King of Pa Tuwatewata Spades 2026
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 420mm W (frame)
TR-2026-03
Tawhai Rickard
Jacinda Ardern – Queen of Accessories
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 415mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Te Whiti o Rongomai – King of Spades and Ploughs
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
530mm H x 415mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Xena - Queen of Resistant Hearts
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
535mm H x 420mm W (frame)
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Tawhai Rickard
Joker – David Seymour, Coalition Dummy 2026
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
310mm H x 230mm W
TR-2026-16
Tawhai Rickard
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Joker – Mallard vs Henare, Main Event, Winston Peters’ 80th Birthday 2026
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
310mm H x 230mm W
TR-2026-14
Tawhai Rickard
Joker – Don Brash, Ruddy and Runny and Worth Lots of Money
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
310mm H x 230mm W
TR-2026-15
Tawhai Rickard
Joker - Christopher Luxon, featuring Narendra Modi, BFF 2026
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
310mm H x 230mm W
TR-2026-13
Tawhai Rickard
Joker – Tame Iti, Dance All Around the World
2026
acrylic & shellac on shaped wooden panel
310mm H x 230mm W
TR-2026-17
Tawhai Rickard
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Tawhai Rickard
Mokomoko and the Kawanatanga Kohuru
2026
acrylic & shellac on reclaimed wood, antique frame
720mm H x 515mm W
TR-2026-19
Tawhai Rickard
Rua Kenana, Auahituroa the Comet and His Arrest 2026
2026
acrylic & shellac on reclaimed wood, antique frame
570mm H x 435mm W
TR-2026-18
Tawhai Rickard
Ponga Rā / when will you walk with me
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata (detail)
2026
Installation view
Ngaroma Riley
Hikoi ki Pāremata
2026
Installation view