Ko Taupiri te maunga

Ko Waikato te awa

Ko Ngaati Wairere te hapu

Ko Hukanui te marae

Ko Waikato te iwi

Ko Tainui te waka

Hapi Matika is a talented local artist of Te Awakairangi – Lower Hutt. He is best known for his expertise in whakairo (carving), creativity with ceramics and contributions to his community.

Hapi was exposed to the art of whakairo at a young age. Surrounded by kaiwhakairo in his whānau, Hapi would often watch his uncles and older relatives carving in the shed. He loved watching them work and listening to the tapping sound of the adze. When the carvers went for a break, Hapi snuck into their sed and drew their carvings. Later, at home, he would repeat those drawings until he got it right. Soon enough, Hapi was able to buy his own carving tools and began to work with native wood, with nothing but his memory of the ‘old boys’ to guide him.

Hapi’s first project as a kaiwhakairo was to carve the name of his marae on the front of his whare, and he is proud of his first contribution to the history of the pā. After talking with whānau about the names of the other whare on his marae, Hapi carved the name of the wharekai and moved on to the paepae. Relying on the knowledge absorbed from his elders, their cuts, designs and symbols, those same elders came to praise Hapi for his great mind!

Hapi took a break from carving and ventured to Te Wai Pounamu and worked on the electricity dams. Years later Hapi found himself in Wellington, where he dedicated 35 years to the Black Power. Although Hapi walked a difficult road for many years, the guidance of his tīpuna allowed him to close that chapter of his life and reignite his passion for toi Māori and te ao Māori. For Hapi, whakairo was something that never went away.

Today Hapi enjoys expressing his creativity through clay and ceramic works. He often uses clay to mould what he has envisioned in his dreams, creating unique sculptures that each hold characteristics of their own. Hapi has instilled his mauri within every tāonga he creates, giving each creation mana of its own. Hapi shares his artistic talents within the creative spaces facilitated by MIX – Connecting, Creating, Living in Lower Hutt, assisting others to also express themselves through clay.

Since 2017, Hapi has actively exhibited his ceramic work in the Wellington region including three annual exhibitions facilitated by MIX – Connecting, Creating and Living in Lower Hutt, ROAR! Gallery and Thistle Hall. Hapi has also made significant contributions to auction fundraisers for the Wellington City Mission and other community initiatives.

“This is my story and my journey in this world, I love being a creator”
– Hapi Matika