Two well-known faces were welcomed into The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi’s ‘living circle’ of arts icons on Wednesday, with a swanky ceremony held at Government House in Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Neil Finn and Tā Pita Sharples (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Te Kikiri o te Rangi, Ngāti Pahauwera) joined a group of 20 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant artists, for their contributions to the worlds of kapa haka, mau rākau and music respectively.
Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro welcomed guests to Government House, talking about the importance of the arts in a speech. “We live in increasingly uncertain times, and it is through the arts that we receive the profound comfort of knowing we're not alone; a reminder of the too-often-neglected truth of just how much we share.”
Guests included patrons, artists, past recipients of the Arts Foundation’s Laureate awards, politicians and supporters, like Miriama Kamo, Patricia Grace, Miranda Harcourt, Dame Robin White, Ayesha Green, Murray Crane and minister for arts and culture Paul Goldsmith. Musician Whirimako Black performed, while Jemaine Clement accepted the award on behalf of Finn.
The Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga was established in 2003, with 46 people honored in total (20 are living; 26 have passed on). Each recipient receives a bronze medallion set with pounamu and a pin designed by sculptor John Edgar; each medallion passes to a future icon at the time of their death.
A selection panel who decided on the latest additions to the group of 20 reflected on Sharples and Finn’s influence across disciplines.
“Tā Pita Sharples is a well-recognised figure across the landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand but his contribution to the art of mau rākau, waiata, kapa haka and other Māori performing arts has been undeniable,” said the panel. “His dynamism, influence and impact has already created a long-lasting legacy not only for Māori here in Aotearoa but across the world.”
They described Neil Finn as “a true Icon who has made an enormous impact on generations of musicians, putting Aotearoa New Zealand on the international stage and bringing the world closer to us.”
Previous recipients of the Icon Award include Ralph Hotere (2003), Margaret Mahy (2005), Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (2013), Billy Apple (2018) and Sam Neill (2020). The last Icon Awards were held in 2022, welcoming Papali'i Fatu Feu’u, Dame Robin White and Dame Jane Campion (2022).
The Icon Awards come soon after the Arts Foundation Laureates gala, held in October, where eight recipients were named as laureates across various disciplines. The next generation focused Springboard Award is open for 2025 nominations until December 13.
