The small Central Hawke's Bay village of Porangahau is showcasing its land, sea and people in a unique exhibition of images by Wellington photographer Sal Criscillo, taonga, and contemporary Maori art.

The exhibition to be held at the HB Exhibition Centre, Hastings, is entitled Te Poho and is based on the Porangahau district and items of significance to Ngati Kere hapu.It is being curated by established artist, curator, teacher and governor of the arts Sandy Adsett of Ngati Pahauwera, Hawke's Bay.

Te Poho, referring to "the seat of affection, the bosom", derives its name from Te Poho o Kahungunu, the meeting house situated on Rongomaraeroa Marae at Porangahau, writes Victoria University Pro Vice Chancellor Maori Dr Piri Sciascia.

"It points to not only the stories of the district of Porangahau but also to the feeling of the place, its quality of life and its experience.

"The exhibition will be curated in such a way as to portray the community of Porangahau and to give a voice to its people, the land and culture.

"The instruments of this voice include photography, literature, art and taonga that together provide a unique statement," says Dr Sciascia.

Sal Criscillo's photography is challenging and startling in its composition.

His 80+large landscape, personally ink jet printed composite images encompasses local life from a rural and hapu perspective.

A second generation son of early Italian settlers from Stromboli to Island Bay, Wellington, Criscillo is a professional photographer who has had a successful career in the world of advertising and illustrative photography.

With a photographic focus mainly on the food/fashion and corporate industries he has covered a kaleidoscopic mix of assignments for many of the leading national and international advertising agencies, design companies and major corporate companies.

Criscillo describes his Porangahau experience as a "journey of discovery involving the warmth and humour of the people and encompassing aspects of local life as diverse as a Maori tangi and the Dannevirke Hunt".

"Thank you Porangahau , and especially the locals who have allowed me into their lives personally/photographically with warmth and humour."

Backgrounding the district, Dr Sciascia writes that in "pre-European times the coastal district was connected to Te Tapere Nui o Whatinga known as the Ninety Mile Bush which extended to the Wairarapa and was an inland food basket of seemingly inexhaustible supply.

"European settlement led to the felling of the bush to provide for the new New Zealand economy.

"The subsequent Pakeha farming community, along with those who provided a rural New Zealand infrastructure - vicar, shopkeeper, hotelier, policeman, school teacher, post office general, garage owner, made up the somewhat downsized fabric of the interchange and coextistence of Maori and Pakeha that typifies Porangahau."

Te Poho will be opened by Hon Parekura Horomia in conjunction with the launch of Tuahine Sisters of Porangahau.

When: until mid-January 2008
Where: HB Exhibition Centre, Hastings

31/10/07