The Whau Arts Residency

The Whau Arts Residency offers local artists space to create, connect, and share new work through medium to long-term studio residencies in the heart of New Lynn. Creating opportunities to embed the arts within our communities – keep an eye out for open studios, workshops, and exhibitions.

We are excited to embark on this new opportunity in partnership with LynnMall and Whau the People. Our first artist in residence is Ta’i Paitai.

Ta’i Paitai

Ta’i Paitai is the inaugural Whau Arts Resident. Keep an eye out for open studios, workshops and opportunities to see his work in LynnMall.

I was born Te Okotai a Te ‘Aruru Paitai, in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa, NZ. Of Rarotongan, Mangaian, Samoan and Scottish heritage. I’m an Interdisciplinary Artist that has traversed across the Arts as a dancer, choreographer, board member, producer, project manager, mentor and weaver. Born and bred central Tāmaki.

In 2021 I discovered that I have a knack for weaving, after doing a workshop with the Tupumaiaga a Niue Trust, and couldn’t stop. After a year of practising everyday, I started teaching all around NZ. In 2025 I was invited to the opening of the Oceania exhibition at The Met in New York, and have one of my kete in their collection. On opening day, I was given space to weave and to talk to people about weaving. There were over thirty thousand people that walked through the halls that day.

I’m the first Pacific artist to be awarded the William Hodges Fellowship by the Southland Arts Foundation and recently completed a 3 month residency in Invercargill.