# Mike Tavioni

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{{Short description|Cook Islands artist and writer}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [BEM](/source/British_Empire_Medal)
| name               = Mike Tavioni
| image              = File:Mike Tav 22 Headshot.jpg
| caption            = Mike Tavioni in 2022
| birth_date         = {{Birth year and age|1947}}
| birth_place        = [Rarotonga](/source/Rarotonga), [Cook Islands](/source/Cook_Islands)
| occupation         = {{Flatlist|
*Artist
*writer
}}
| alma_mater         = [Tereora College](/source/Tereora_College)<br>[Northland College](/source/Northland_College%2C_Kaikohe)<br>[Massey University](/source/Massey_University)<br>[Auckland University of Technology](/source/Auckland_University_of_Technology)
}}
'''Mitaera Ngatae Teatuakaro Michael Tavioni''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|BEM}} (born 1947)<ref name=CINBEM/> is a [Cook Islands](/source/Cook_Islands) artist and writer. A master carver, he has been described as a ''taonga'' (treasure).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=11797517 |title=Pacific artist Michael Tuffery creating a memorial to Rarotonga's 'Forgotten 43' |author=Anne Gibson |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=10 February 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> His role in the pacific art community is recognised from [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) to [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://islandculturearchivalsupport.wordpress.com/2019/01/07/native-of-2020-art-show-in-cook-islands/ |title="Native of 2020″ Art Show in Cook Islands |publisher=Island Time |date=7 January 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref>

Tavioni was born on [Rarotonga](/source/Rarotonga). He was educated at [Tereora College](/source/Tereora_College), then at [Northland College, Kaikohe](/source/Northland_College%2C_Kaikohe) and [Massey University](/source/Massey_University) in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), graduating with a degree in Agriculture & Horticulture.<ref name="citc1">{{cite web |url=https://cookislands.travel/our-little-stories/mike-tavioni |title=Cultural Heritage: Mike Tavioni |publisher=Cook Islands Tourism Corporation |date= |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> After working as a public servant in the Agriculture Department, he became a full-time artist.<ref name="citc1"/> In 2019 he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from [Auckland University of Technology](/source/Auckland_University_of_Technology).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/74371-master-artist-carves-letters-after-his-name |title=Master artist carves letters after his name |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=28 September 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Tavioni |first=Michael |title=Tāura ki te Atua - The role of 'akairo in Cook Islands Art |date=2018 |degree=Master of Arts in Māori Development |publisher=Tuwhera Open Access, Auckland University of Technology |hdl=10292/11594 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10292/11594}}</ref>

He has worked in a wide variety of mediums, including printing, painting, wood, stone, and bone, as well as traditional tattooing.<ref name="citc1"/> In 1975 he began printing t-shirts using wooden blocks.<ref name=pim1>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-342891167/view?sectionId=nla.obj-351908763&partId=nla.obj-342900859#page/n48/mode/1up |title=Carving a path for art |author=Angela McCarthy |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=61 |issue=1 |pages=49–50 |date=1 January 1991 |accessdate=5 August 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He experimented with other mediums, but initially found it difficult to obtain tools and materials.<ref name=pim1/> In 1996 he oversaw the creation of the [Punanga Nui](/source/Punanga_Nui) market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/38660-tavioni-rsquo-s-punanga-nui-proposal-rejected/38660-tavioni-rsquo-s-punanga-nui-proposal-rejected |title=Tavioni's Punanga Nui proposal rejected |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=20 July 2012 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> In 2002 he published a poetry collection, ''Speak Your Truth''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/culture/item/71708-eleven-artists-show-work-in-themed-event |title=Eleven artists show work in themed event |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=4 January 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> His work is displayed at the [Punanga Nui](/source/Punanga_Nui) in [Avarua](/source/Avarua) and the [University of the South Pacific](/source/University_of_the_South_Pacific) campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/65686-two-unveilings-make-artist-s-day-extra-special |title=Two 'unveilings' make artist's day extra-special |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=31 August 2017 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> In 2016 he was commissioned, alongside New Zealand-based artist [Michel Tuffery](/source/Michel_Tuffery), to create a carved wooden gateway for the RSA memorial cemetery to commemorate the centenary of Cook Islands participation in the [First World War](/source/First_World_War).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/local/item/60667-first-step-in-creation-of-carved-memorial |title=First step in creation of carved memorial |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=14 September 2016 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref>

Tavioni unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the Unity party in the [1978 Cook Islands general election](/source/1978_Cook_Islands_general_election).<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The Unity Movement |author=Michael T. Tavoni  |title=Cook Islands Politics: The Inside Story |location=Auckland |publisher=Polynesian Press |date=1979 |editor1-last=Davis |editor1-first=Thomas R. A. H. |editor2-last=Crocombe |editor2-first=R. G. |pages=83 |isbn=0-908597-002}}</ref> He later stood as a candidate for the [Te Kura O Te ʻAu People's Movement](/source/Te_Kura_O_Te_%CA%BBAu_People's_Movement) in [Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston](/source/Avatiu%E2%80%93Ruatonga%E2%80%93Palmerston) in the [2010 election](/source/2010_Cook_Islands_general_election).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm |title=Mike Tavioni surprise candidate |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=16 October 2010 |accessdate=5 August 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026023743/http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/October/Wed20/other.htm#1010160709 |archive-date=26 October 2010}}</ref>

In 2010, Tavioni was part of the exhibition ''MANUIA'' with [Kay George](/source/Kay_George), [Mahiriki Tangaroa](/source/Mahiriki_Tangaroa), Jerome Sheddon, and [Michel Tuffery](/source/Michel_Tuffery), in American Indian Community House in [New York](/source/New_York_City). The exhibition was curated by Ben Bergman and was opened by former New Zealand Prime Minister, and former UNDP Programme Administrator [Helen Clark](/source/Helen_Clark).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-17 |title=Art show well received |url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h503i.htm |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands Herald}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-08-18 |title=NY embraces Manuia exhibit |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/features/ny-embraces-manuia-exhibit/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>

Tavioni now runs a gallery and art school in Rarotonga,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/item/71740-big-plans-for-newly-opened-gallery/71740-big-plans-for-newly-opened-gallery |title=Big plans for newly-opened gallery |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=8 January 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> where he teaches traditional ''vaka''-making.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/item/72578-vaka-headed-for-california |title=Vaka headed for California |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=29 April 2019 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}</ref> In 2021 he was the subject of a short documentary film, ''Taonga: An Artists Activist''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/culture/taonga-an-artists-activist/ |title=Taonga: An Artists Activist |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=20 December 2021 |access-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220222851/https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/culture/taonga-an-artists-activist/ |archive-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>

In the [2022 Birthday Honours](/source/2022_Birthday_Honours) he was awarded the [British Empire Medal](/source/British_Empire_Medal) for services to the arts and to the community.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=63715 |date=2 June 2022 |page=B42 }}</ref><ref name=CINBEM>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/economy/four-recognised-in-queens-birthday-honours-list/ |title=Four recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours List |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=7 June 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref>

==Images==
<gallery mode=traditional>
File:Stone sculpture, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.jpg|Punanga Nui sculpture, 1998
File:Cook Islands RSA Memorial Gateway.jpg|Cook Islands RSA Memorial Gateway, 2017
File:Tavioni Carving NZHC1.jpg|Wood carving for NZ High Commission, 2019
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Travioni, Mike}}
Category:Massey University alumni
Category:Auckland University of Technology alumni
Category:Cook Island artists
Category:People from Rarotonga
Category:1947 births
Category:Living people
Category:Woodcarvers
Category:Cook Island poets

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mike Tavioni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tavioni) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tavioni?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.