The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi welcomes Ann Robinson, Darcy Nicholas, The Topp Twins and Witi Ihimaera Smiler into a living circle of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant artists.
Established in 2003, the Icon Awards Whakamana Hiranga are the Arts Foundation’s highest honour, recognising the remarkable impact each artist has had on their practice, community, and the cultural landscape of Aotearoa.
This year marks a total of 50 artists honoured as Icon Whakamana Hiranga. Each Icon Whakamana Hiranga receives a bronze medallion set with pounamu and a pin designed by sculptor John Edgar. The pin, made this year by 2022 Laureate Dr Areta Wilkinson is given to the recipient to keep, while the medallion passes on to a future Icon at the time of their death.
Witi Ihimaera Smiler
Te Whānau A Kai, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngā Tāmanuhiri, Whakatōhea, Tūhoe, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou
Literature
Author Witi Ihimaera (Te Whānau A Kai, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngā Tāmanuhiri, Whakatōhea, Tūhoe, Ngāti Ira, Ngāti Porou) said the award affirmed his cultural role across generations.
“The Icon Whakamana Hiranga Award affirms my role in carrying the legacy of Te Ao Tāwhito through Te Ao Inaianei to Te Ao Āpōpō, Tomorrow,” Smiler said. “The rangatahi are already standing on the horizon, waiting.”
