REI gallery

Section Styles sliding-header img-scroll

Section Styles home-navigation remove-links

Rei is a Māori owned and operated gallery under local mana whenua Kāti Wheke, located in the Whakaraupō bay.

Within Rei is a collective of artists who are committed to pushing boundaries, generating conversation, and creating new possibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. As carvers, sculptors, painters, and weavers, our aims are to support emerging, mid-career, and established artists in Ōtautahi. As an extension ofWhakaraupō Carving Centre, the idea behind Rei is to include individuals and groups from all backgrounds who are a part of Te Ao Māori. We aim to create pathways and opportunities for rangatahi who show an affinity for toi Māori, and increase it’s visibility in te Waipounamu.

Launched in 2023

Rei gallery

Our Kaupapa

Nestled in Ōhinehou, Rei is a space for Māori and non-Māori to find common ground, to create not just art, but mutual aid between each other, to make amends with the past and centre Te Ao Māori (the world of Māori).

We want society to see the ways in which contribution is meaningful, how creative work can be realised collectively, and find ways of how we might shape our future together.

Our portfolio

Rei is comprised of a growing collective of diverse members who work with a broad range of mediums including: sculptors, carvers, weavers, visual artists, visual performers, musicians, writers, printers, ta moko artists, tattooists, and silver smiths.