Community invited to help shape the next chapter for Toiwaka Turner Centre

The Turner Centre is inviting the community to help shape its next chapter as it adopts the name Toiwaka Turner Centre, with people across the Far North encouraged to contribute to a new visual identity inspired by the people, cultures and creativity that make the venue what it is today.

The change follows an extensive rebranding process led by the Turner Centre, with input from trustees, staff, stakeholders, the Turner family and the wider community. The new name, gifted through a partnership with Ngāti Rēhia, reflects the centre's vision as a place where people, cultures and the arts come together.

As part of the rebrand, the community is being invited to share their own interpretation of the letter "T". Ideas gathered through workshops and online submissions will help shape a new visual identity that reflects the many generations, cultures and artforms that make up the centre's hapori.

Far North District Council owns and maintains the Turner Centre building, while The Centre at Kerikeri Limited continues to manage and operate the venue's arts and cultural programmes, events and activities. This partnership enables council to look after the building while the charitable organisation focuses on delivering arts and cultural experiences for the district.

Turner Centre General Manager Gerry Paul said the new name reflects both the organisation's purpose and its partnership with mana whenua.

"The name Toiwaka embodies who we are - the waka that brings the arts to the community - and we are proud to have that sit alongside the Turner Centre. We are very lucky to have a strong partnership with Ngāti Rēhia, mana whenua of Kerikeri, and it is important for us to embrace reo rua and to honour our commitment to our bicultural identity. The Northland NZ Impact funding couldn't have come at a better time, arriving just as we were ready to launch a reo rua name and refresh our visual identity."

Support from NZ Impact Funding is supporting the rebranding process of the Turner Centre. With its new identity, Turner Centre will be able to expand its community impact by supporting arts, cultural and engagement programmes that bring people together, foster creativity, and increase access to cultural experiences for communities across Te Tai Tokerau.

A community workshop was held on 17 July, but submissions are still open until end August. People of all ages are encouraged to create and share their own T, whether by downloading a template, creating one digitally, or simply making a T on any piece of paper and dropping it into the Turner Centre or emailing it to toi@turnercentre.co.nz.

The Turner family showed their support for the rebranding process. "The Turner family appreciate being consulted regarding the rebranding of the Turner Centre. The lifetime of mahi that our father put into its creation was something we experienced firsthand; and we know that he would approve of 'change' if it meant the betterment of the Arts in Kerikeri, as it was his exceptional ability to think past the 'here and now' that gives us all - Toiwaka Turner Centre - today!"

The new name also aligns with Rautaki Reorua - Bilingual Strategy. The new identity is expected to be unveiled alongside the centre's new website in early 2027.