About the trust

I was born in Tasmania in 1940. My father was Scottish and my mother was third generation Australian. Like many families in that era we pretty much lived off the land, growing our own fruit and veges, and catching fish and rabbits. I picked up a love of drawing from my father, a love of nature from a year spent at a bush school in the Australian Alps, and concern for humanity from the womenfolk in my family. Out of such beginnings I made a career in architecture, both as a practitioner and a teacher. My retirement “work” is to develop a system for making healthy and affordable housing.

Back in the mid-1970s, Libby and Lisa and I moved to Wellington where I had a job starting up the School of Architecture at Victoria University. Kate Gray was born in Wellington, the first home-grown Kiwi in our family. I’m proud of how Kate chose to immerse herself in Māoritanga in Whanganui. Since her accidental death more than 20 years ago, the Memorial Trust that bears Kate’s name has supported young Māori artists in the Whanganui region. I am privileged to be one of the trustees; and I’m particularly excited about our new mentorship programme for senior students and the prospect of further supporting those who go on to tertiary study in the arts.

Kia Ora,

Ko Lisa Gray ahau.

I noho ana au ki Te Whanganui a Tara.

I have been a Trustee since 2015 - but Kate was my sister, so I've had an association with the Trust since it was formed.

I am a kindergarten teacher in Karori, Wellington. It's a job I love (and working with children on their art work is one of my favourite parts of it). I am also currently working on papers to finish of my Master's in Education.

In my spare time I enjoy reading and cooking as well as watching and talking to the many kaka that live near me. I look forward to meeting you all.

E rere kau mai te Awa nui, mai i te Kāhui Maunga ki Tangaroa

Ko au te Awa, Ko te Awa ko au.

Kei te mihi tonu au ki taku Ātihaunui a Pāpārangitanga, ki taku Tūwharetoatanga, ki taku Hauititanga, ki taku Whakatōheatanga, ki taku Irishtanga hoki. Eaku tupuna tū mai rā hei pou arahi mō mātou te kaupapa tangata. Engā whanaunga maha o te motu, tēnā rā koutou katoa.

Marty has a national and international artists’ profile and has contributed to New Zealand Printmaking for over 40 years. He was the co-founder and inaugural President of the Central Print Council of New Zealand and was recently made a life member of the Print Council on his retirement as president.

Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, he is of Dutch extraction but considers himself to be a kiwi who identifies with the South Pacific positioning of Aotearoa.

He has always had a fascination for language and Te Reo Māori specifically which translates into the many diverse prints, typography and laser projects he has completed over recent years.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahu, Whakatōhea

I am a recipient of the Kate Gray Memorial Scholarship from 2001 and graduated from the Quay School of Fine Arts in 2002. I am currently an artist who is passionate about drawing and printmaking and a member of Toi Whakaata – Māori Printers collective. I am also a secondary school teacher of Art and see education as key to the success of our young people. The Mentor Program allows me to help create opportunities and unique experiences for our youth. So many people saw something in me and helped to nurture and support my passion and this is one way I can acknowledge that and in turn give something back.

Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Porou

I graduated from the Quay School of Arts UCOL Whanganui in 2006 with a major in Sculpture. During my years at UCOL I was a recipient of the Kate Gray Memorial scholarship. Currently I am the manager at Resene Colorshop Whanganui. I am also an artist. I love pattern, I love colour and I love being Maori! These three elements are the driving force behind my recent works. I enjoy experimenting with texture and the process of creating. Trying to find what is aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I am very humbled to be asked to become a trustee on the KGMT. What better way to stay current within the art scene, but to also tautoko, enlighten and expand the minds of our young people to pursue further studies in art making. What an awesome group to be a part of!

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Kate is the second of my two cherished daughters.

In my working life I have taught secondary and tertiary students, worked in publishing, organised arts events and had a lot of ‘fun, sweat and tears’ working with hot glass.

I am excited that we are able to encourage and assist young arts students to develop their interests and undertake further education.

Libby resigned in 2019, but is still around keeping an eye on us and supporting the kaupapa where she can. We acknowledge her service, drive and inspiration.

TINEKE PAURINI

2020 - 2022. Treasurer & secretary

Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Porou

I graduated from the Quay School of Arts UCOL Whanganui in 2006 with a major in Sculpture. During my years at UCOL I was a recipient of the Kate Gray Memorial scholarship. Currently I am the manager at Resene Colorshop Whanganui. I am also an artist. I love pattern, I love colour and I love being Maori! These three elements are the driving force behind my recent works. I enjoy experimenting with texture and the process of creating. Trying to find what is aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I am very humbled to be asked to become a trustee on the KGMT. What better way to stay current within the art scene, but to also tautoko, enlighten and expand the minds of our young people to pursue further studies in art making. What an awesome group to be a part of!

HE MAIMAI AROHA

Maringi mai te tōmairangi
He tohu aroha, he tohu miharo
He tohu no te Tohunga Tapu
Kia whakakōtahi ai tātou te iwi.
E ngā mate huhua o te wā, haere, haere, haere! Hoki wairua atu rā ki to koutou tuatahitanga, ki to koutou tīmatatanga, ki te kainga tūturu mo tātou te kaupapa tangata. E moe! E okioki! Kaati mo koutou!
E ngā whānau pani, kei te rere tonu ngā roimata aroha mō rātou katoa kua wheturangitia. Tū mai koutou i te kaha o Te Runga Rawa.
Te hunga mate ki te hunga mate, te hunga ora ki a tātou. Tēnā tātou katoa.
He maimai aroha tēnei mō rātou kua mene atu ki te pō

(Patricia) Gail IMHOFF

A prolific photographer who reveled in being able to support and mentor secondary school art students in their transition into Tertiary studies. Although only with the Trust for a relatively short time she contributed to the art community in Whanganui for many years. Her contribution to the Kate Gray Memorial Trust will be remembered for her enthusiasm and projected joy for the students and teachers involved. She and her camera were ever present at events and kaupapa throughout the region. Kei te tangi tonu te ngākau mō tēnei wahine o tātou. Rere tō tika mai koe ki tō tātou kainga tūturu, okioki ai! Kaati!

David Awahuri TEKI

Uncle Dave was a quiet, unassuming very staunch supporter of the Kate Gray Memorial Trust’s aims and objectives from the very beginning. He was of the ‘old school’ and one of those leaders who led from behind. Always there to help when needed but content to allow the trustees to navigate the trials and tribulations of setting up a trust to serve the Māori art students at the Polytechnic. A valuable source of information lost to us all when he passed away in September 2017. Hoki wairua atu ra e te pāpā ki tō tātou kainga tūturu, hoki wairua mai hei rama mo mātou ngā waihotanga.

Henry Desmond BENNETT

Uncle Henry was an educationalist and a founding trustee of the Kate Gray Memorial Trust. His passing in 1998 was totally unexpected and left a huge hole in the hearts of those who loved him for his dedication to providing a culturally safe education platform for Māori students and their whānau in Whanganui. He was well known and respected in the national Māori Art scene throughout Aotearoa and on the many and varied marae and Kohanga Reo he helped to build/renovate over the years. He is sadly missed. Moe mai ra e te pāpā. Kei te tangi tonu ngā roimata aroha mōu.