Nelson Jewellery Week 2025
10th - 16th April 2025 | Whakatu Nelson, New Zealand
An exciting week in Nelson, where the whole town came alive with exhibitions, events, workshops, talks and social activities, to keep the hoards of roaming jewellery enthusiasts extremely busy!
Jude and WCC-APR were welcomed at a mihi-whakatau hosted by Hamuera Manihera at the Nelson Provincial Museum. The APR were also acknowledged in speeches at the NJW opening and Suter Art Gallery - Aotearoa Jewellery Triennial. Craft Master Awardee, Kaetaeta Watson, and WoCCA treasurer, Vicki Mason, both held workshops at Cultural Conversations community arts hub. Ganga Sanjeewanie arrived from Sri Lanka, and Australian jeweller and WCC-APR Secretariat, Susannah Kings-Lynne, also made the trip.
Nelson also became the location for the latest WCC-APR board meeting, held at the Mahitahi Colab local council building. We also met with the council about craft city relationships, and with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and arts boards supporting their bid to go for UNESCO Craft City status.
The APR team attended many other openings and events over five days, including the KOHA ceremony which was a highlight straight from Munich Jewellery Week. Presented by Sofia Tekela Smith, Neke Moa and Stevei Houkamau and hosted again by Hamuera at the Nelson Provincial Museum. Overall it was a great opportunity to create and solidify connections, start conversations and share the act of craft and making with our peers.
Save the date April 2027!
Images L-R: Mihi Whakatau at Nelson Provincial Museum; Jude, Lesley-Anne, Layla & Susannah with Rachel Sanson (Nelson city council); Kataeta Watson & Vicki Mason at Cultural Conversations community hub; Kataeta Watson; Jude presenting a gift to Stevei Houkamau at the KOHA ceremony; Kava Ceremony; ‘Pearl Rope’ by Beau Cotton; Jude with work by Nellie Peoples; Works by the Jewellers Guild of Greater Sandringham; ‘Take a tag’ wall; Rings by Workshop6’s Common Element; ‘Indicating Right Turning Left’ exhibition (works by Kay van Dyk and Jennifer Laracy); Turkey feathers by Kristin O’Sullivan Peren; Works by Neke Moa; Pendants by Grace Yu Piper; ‘He Momo, Na Te Whanau - It’s a Family Trait’ exhibition (works by Renee Bevan, Warwick Freeman & collection from Christchurch Art Gallery). All photos by Craft Aotearoa NZ & Susannah Kings-Lynne.