Raukura Turei

Raukura Maria Turei (born 1987) is a New Zealand artist, actor and architectural designer. She works with Māori iwi to design community-focused developments at the architectural practice Monk Mackenzie Architects. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout New Zealand, and she appeared in the New Zealand film The Dead Lands.

Early life and education Turei was born in Auckland in 1987. She is Māori and affiliates with the iwi (tribes) of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngā Rauru Kītahi. Her father is Māori and her mother is Pākehā. Her mother supported Turei and her sister to learn the Māori language from a young age, and learnt alongside them.

Turei studied architecture at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree in 2009 and a Master of Architecture with first-class honours in 2012. In 2015, she registered as an architect with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board.

In an interview with Dale Husband in 2023, Turei stated that painting was her first love, but she listened to an influential teacher who steered her in the direction of architecture.

Career

Art practice Turei has an art practice creating paintings, often utilising natural materials including iron sand and pigments from different landscapes. Turei's painting has been described as a 'journey in reconnecting with her whakapapa'. In New Zealand her work has been exhibited at the Dowse Art Museum (Wellington), Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki (CoCA) (Christchurch), Objectspace (Auckland), Te Pātaka Toi - The Adam Art Gallery (Wellington), Bartley and Co (Wellington) and Sumer Contemporary, Tauranga.

Designers and artists that inspire Turei include Mata Aho Collective, Kauae Raro Research Collective, ĀKAU, Pacific Sisters, My Art Aunties and Anne Lacaton.

Internationally, Turei has had artwork exhibited at the Tokyo Art Fair (2019), the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair and Day01 Gallery (also in Sydney).

The Pacific Portraits is a series Turei created whilst on residency in Rarotonga.

Turei is a resident artist at Corban Estate Arts Centre in West Auckland. and Cheshire Architects in her architectural career.

Turei worked on the redevelopment of Q Theatre early on in her architectural practice. Her tole was with Te Rōpū Reo Whakahaere, a Māori consultant group, working alongside architect Pip Cheshire. Turei observed there was "a level of engagement in te ao Māori that enriched the way the building is used". and an architect she admires is Lina Bo Bardi.

In 2020, Turei won the residential category at the Interior Awards, a New Zealand-based architecture award. In 2021, Turei was a judge for the awards, and in 2022 won the Emerging Design Professional Award. The jury said: "Her cohesive, holistic projects demonstrate a pursuit of excellence at the highest level, within both te ao Māori and the built environment".

Acting The Dead Lands, a New Zealand action film directed by Toa Fraser, and Find Me a Māori Bride are two screen works Turei has appeared in.

Awards

Manukau Urban Maori Authority Best Supporting Actress (2014), finalist for her role in The Dead Lands - Rialto Channel New Zealand Film Awards Residential category - Ōwairaka House project (2020) New Zealand Interior Awards Wirihana Leadership Award (2023). Takoto ai te marino (16 September 2023 – 10 March 2024) (solo exhibition), The Dowse Art Museum, Wellington Artist residency, Rarotonga (date unspecified)