Uku Pūtorino

Iwi: Ngāti Maniapoto, Rarotonga, Niue, Tahiti Nui Aronga Toi: Uku Taonga Pūoro: Ipūtangi, Pūtangitangi Matū: White clay, recycled clay, red brick clay, oxide finish Akoranga: Arumaki is a raukura of both Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rito in Ōtaki, and Te Wānanga o Raukawa, these teachings provided a foundation made evident in his works. With the support of his kaiako and whānau he graduated with a Diploma of Toi Whakarākai - Māori Design & Art, and completed a Degree in Digital & Graphic Design at Whitireia Polytechnic in Porirua. Arumaki has been a member of the Ōtaki Pottery Club since Kura Kaupapa and comes from a long line of creatives alongside his older brother Rerehau Pasene-Grennell, uncle Shane Pasene and his māmā, Tribal Fibres and Native Style designer, Tutina Pasene. Over the years they have collaborated as a whānau across many mediums and various platforms, runways, and productions. Kaupapa: Arumaki draws inspiration from Māori and Pacific art and creates Taonga Pūoro using a combination of both traditional and modern materials. He is mainly self-taught in regards to making and playing Taonga Pūoro, but also draws from past and present practitioners such as Horomona Horo, James Webster, Hirini Melbourne, and his past mentor Jerome Kavanagh. Arumaki has embraced the opportunities of this artform to learn te reo Māori, whakapapa, pūrākau, and healing through Taonga Pūoro for whānau. He aims to share Taonga Pūoro with as many people as possible so that Taonga Pūoro can be appreciated and enjoyed far and wide.