Pepeha

Ko Rangitumau te maunga

Ko Ruamahanga te awa

Ko Takitimu, ko Kurahaupō nga waka

Ko Te Ore Ore te marae

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu me Rangitane ki Wairarapa oku iwi

Ko Kendyl Walker toku ingoa

Toi by Kendyl Walker

Toi: (noun) art, knowledge, native indigenous - Te Aka Māori Dictionary

Toi is an important ingoa (name) in my whānau.

  • My father: Toi Henare Walker
  • My grandfather: Toi Walker (Waaka) 1940-2019
  • My great grandmother: Toi Haeata Kuku 1904-1966

My father tells me that he, his father and his grandmother were all named after Toikairakau (grandfather of Whatonga, chief of the Kurahaupō canoe).

Toikairakau is known as different variations throughout Aotearoa and Rarotonga, with mentions also throughout the histories of Tahiti.

Toikairakau is where the name starts in our whānau, dating back 27 generations.

With the history of the name and the meaning of the word, it only felt fitting for this mahi.

My toi journey

Artwork

I took my love (or maybe habit lol) of doodling on all of my school work from primary school through to uni, and turned it into an opportunity to showcase it.

Some ask me how I learnt to draw, specifically my māori designs, and I can never reply with an exact time, lesson or moment. Rather, I can only recall growing up with it through tā moko, tukutuku, and tāniko for example.

My ultimate aim is to contribute to the reclamation of Te Ao Māori and if I can do that by creating decor in a home or desgining a logo for a sports team, then I'm harikoa!

Photography

I have been doing photography for about 12 years now. The first 9 years as a hobby and the last 3 years as a self employed photographer. I started out just loving to take photos in high school and now I have found my own style of photography.

My style is candid, fun and natural.. including outdoorsy.

I have my camera with me everywhere - sometimes my whanau get sick of it lol.

Follow me on instagram: toibykendylwalker for a more behind the scenes look of this mahi.