Draw, Design, Fly: Inspired by Nikau Hindin’s Kites

Thursday 9 April 2026
11AM + 2PM
Workshops
SCHOOL HOLIDAY EVENT

Children will explore traditional Māori kite (manu tukutuku) making practices and construct their own kite designs inspired by Nikau Hindin (Te Rarawa/Ngāpuhi, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand), whose Māori manu aute (bark-cloth kites) feature in System Release.

Māori manu aute is an Indigenous technology used for navigation, communication and divination. Led by a TarraWarra educator, participants will be introduced to the cultural and creative contexts of kite-making before working through a hands-on process of drawing, designing and constructing their own kite forms.

The workshop focuses on:

  • Cultural storytelling and symbolism
  • Construction and basic design principles
  • Visual language drawn from the natural environment
  • Use of symbols, rectilinear shapes, geometry, pattern and colour

Participants will be encouraged to think about their own relationships to nature and place, translating these ideas into visual form through their designs. Each child will create a kite to take home and enjoy.

The program supports creative confidence, cultural learning, visual literacy and hands-on making, and is designed to be engaging and accessible for a wide range of learning styles and abilities.


Morning Session 

  • Arrival & Registration:10.45am
  • Workshop: 11am–1pm

Afternoon Session 

  • Arrival & Registration: 1.45pm
  • Workshop: 2pm–4pm

We ask that people arrive 15 minutes before the workshop to complete a Health and Safety form upon arrival. Children aged 6 may require an accompanying adult. 

Suitable for Ages 6-14 years old

All materials are supplied.  


Great Value School Holiday Fun!

$10 Child
$8 Member or Concession

Booking more than one child? Enjoy 10% off automatically when purchasing two or more child tickets.

Please note: Workshop tickets do not include exhibition admission. Members and children under 12 enter free.

BOOK TICKETS

Related exhibitions

The Story Visit
While the Museum is currently closed for exhibition changeover, the Eva and Marc Besen Centre remains open Tues–Sun 11am–5pm. Book your Behind the Glass tours Thursday and Saturday for a closer look at our collection.BOOK TICKETS
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