‘Pathway of Treasures’ earns top honour at Southland arts awards
“I hope with all my heart that the work will inspire greater protection, enhancement, and the restoration of this beautiful, beautiful awa and its pathway of natural treasures.”
The culmination of a long-standing collaboration between Hokonui Rūnanga, Eastern Southland Gallery, artist Jo Ogier, and ecologists Brian and Chris Rance has taken out the top honour at the second-ever Arts Murihiku Southland Creative Arts Awards.
The biennial awards – held in Invercargill last night – recognised the excellence, achievement, and contribution across the region’s diverse creative sector, and celebrated everyone from emerging artists to established practitioners, educators, leaders, patrons, and volunteers.
Arts Murihiku board chair Becs Amundsen said the event was an opportunity to recognise the dedication of those involved in the region’s arts sector.
“The Arts Murihiku Southland Creative Arts Awards are about shining a light on the powerhouses of our creative community. These are people who make our community a richer and more vibrant place, and their tireless efforts are vital in ensuring our burgeoning arts sector continues to thrive,” she said.
The evening’s highest honour, the ILT Supreme Awards, was presented to He Wai Apakura – Te Ara Pounamu (The River’s Lament: A Pathway of Treasures).
The project skilfully wove together mātauranga Māori, ecological knowledge, and the stories of Māruawai and the Mataura River, Amundsen said.
It included 26 major watercolours created by Ogier, which were supported by extensive community outreach and education programmes.
At the awards, Ogier said she was humbled and honoured to accept the award on behalf of everybody contributed to the work.
“The body of work does lament the monumental loss of taonga species, habitat, and water quality of the Mataura River and its surrounding whenua – a situation sadly indicative of most of the rivers throughout Aotearoa.
“The work aimed to foster a greater understanding, appreciation, and connection to the diverse flora and fauna and our ecosystems, by representing approximately 190 species within the artworks. A large outreach programme of workshops was run in conjunction with the exhibition, focusing on primary school students along with a number of adult art workshops and an information catalogue to complement the exhibition,” she said.
“I hope with all my heart that the work will inspire greater protection, enhancement, and the restoration of this beautiful, beautiful awa and its pathway of natural treasures.”
This year’s judging panel for the awards was comprised of three highly-experienced creatives with strong connections to the deep south.
Southland-born Deborah Wai Kapohe was an internationally-recognised soprano, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and arts practitioner who had performed throughout New Zealand and overseas.
Meanwhile, ceramic artist, musician, and senior lecturer at the Dunedin School of Art, Rob Cloughley’s connections to the south included generations of extended family from Gore and Riverton.
“There is an enormous amount happening creatively in the south. The awards are very important in celebrating the quality and the diversity of local art that contributes to the wellbeing of Southland communities,” Cloughley said.
Te Anau-based Sara Litchfield rounded out the judging panel. The writer, editor, and photographer held a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge, and she was actively involved in developing literary arts activities in the south.
“I’m overjoyed to see so many people thriving in the arts in Murihiku. It’s been a privilege to experience the depth and breadth of imagination and dedication at work across such a range of creative disciplines – and to see that work rewarded,” she said.
Amundsen said more than 90 nominations were received for this year’s awards, showcasing the breadth of creative talent throughout Murihiku. The awards also recognised the many contributions that happened away from the spotlight.
“A vibrant arts community spans far beyond the person on the stage, or the artist whose name is seen on a work. It takes educators, producers, volunteers, administrators, and so many others working to help the sector flourish behind-the-scenes. These awards are an opportunity to recognise the whole ecosystem that drives Southland’s creative sector forward.”
Amundsen also acknowledged the event sponsors and Arts Murihiku staff and trustees, for their efforts in delivering the second-ever awards.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the organisations who supported Arts Murihiku in bringing this event to life, and we’re incredibly proud to have been able to celebrate our creative community the way it deserves. We’re already looking forward to doing it all again in 2028.”
Article published in the Southern Tribune 16 August 2026
