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Award’s opening night

by Web editor
December 27, 2025December 27, 2025

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waiclay2025

Waiclay National Ceramic Award 2025. Exhibition at Waikato Museum 13 December - 22 March 2026.

Meri Kirihimete from the Waiclay team. Waiclay Na

Meri Kirihimete from the Waiclay team. Waiclay National Ceramic Awards 2025 is currently showing at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, Hamilton. Closed Xmas day, open from 26 December 10-5pm. Until 22 March 2026. Image Forest Fabric by Kevin Kilsby. #waiclay2025 #waikatomuseum #nzceramics #nzpottery #potteryexhibition

Thanks to designer extraordinaire John Parker, Wai

Thanks to designer extraordinaire John Parker, Waiclay is looking fabulous. See it at Waikato Museum. #waikatomuseum #johnparker #johnparkerceramics #nzpottery #exhibitiondesigner

A quick trip to the Coromandel for our visitors. D

A quick trip to the Coromandel for our visitors. Driving Creek Pottery and Railway, Whangamata Maureen Allison’s. #waiclay2025 #thecoromandel #maureenallison #drivingcreekrailwayandpotteries #coromandeltown

What a weekend — and so many people to thank. Hug

What a weekend — and so many people to thank.
Huge thanks to Diane Kelly, our kitchen goddess, and Marie Harrison, hāngī kai coordinator and all-round organiser. Thanks also to Callum and Riyah from Driving Creek Pottery, part of our brilliant kitchen crew; hāngī master Lucas Rihari and his son Willem, Pizza Team Peter Collis and Elena Renker and Janet’s family for pitching in - especially with the setup, installation and pack-down of marquees and equipment.
A big thank you to our committee and wider Waiclay team:
• John Parker, for designing and curating the exhibition at Waikato Museum and creating the stunning catalogue alongside Derek Ward
• Duncan Shearer, our website manager
• David Lloyd, for the use of his gallery for the Salon exhibition
• Janet’s daughter Caryn Stone, for receiving all the entries and managing the computer backend
• Marion Manson, for keeping our social media humming
• Trish Seddon, for organising and curating the Salon exhibition
• Julie Burwell, for her help during the workshop
• Alex Wilkinson, for her work on grants and sponsorship proposals
And finally, heartfelt thanks to the powerhouse behind it all - Janet Smith (President) and Fiona Tunnicliffe (Secretary and Treasurer). Their dedication to Waiclay and the clay community, tireless work in the lead-up to the exhibition, museum, liaison, catalogue production, troubleshooting, hosting our international guests, and the countless unseen tasks behind the scenes make it all possible.
Such a successful weekend and we truly couldn’t have done it without this incredible team. 👏👏🙏🙏 #waiclay2025 #nzpottery #nzceramics #ceramicsnz #nzart #teamwork #claycommunity #thankyou #sharedkai #creativecommunitynz

A true highlight for our South African visitors.

A true highlight for our South African visitors.
Sunday evening’s hāngī, lovingly prepared by Lucas Rihari of Hawera and kai by Marie Harrison, was something special. Andile and Nathi jumped in enthusiastically to help with the preparation, and everyone enjoyed a well-earned wind down at the end of the workshop while waiting for the hāngī to be lifted. Following the delicious kai, Andile presented Lucas’s son Willem with a tribal pendant, and Willem and Lucas responded with a haka - a powerful and heartfelt moment of cultural exchange.
A perfect way to finish a very successful weekend.
#Waiclay2025
#CreativeExchange
#CulturalConnection
#Hangi
#SharedKai
#ArtAndCommunity
#SouthAfricanArtists
#NZCreatives
#workshopvibes #nzpottery #nzceramics #waiclay2025 #ceramicsnz #andiledyalvane #nzpotters #claycommunity

The workshop culminated in a very powerful, memora

The workshop culminated in a very powerful, memorable ceremony - under a shady tree on Janet’s front lawn - letting go of attachment giving thanks and acknowledging that clay, like life is fragile and temporary.
He spoke a lot about ‘camagu’ meaning a conscious way of being - acknowledging others, the ancestors, the land, and moving through life with care, humility, and kindness. #camagu #xhosaculture #creativeritual #clayandculture #gratitude

Beginning the ceremony. #camagu #andiledyalvane #w

Beginning the ceremony. #camagu #andiledyalvane #waiclay2025

Andiles workshop was not about techniques but abou

Andiles workshop was not about techniques but about presence, respect, and meaning in the making, and him explaining it through his Xhosa culture. It was also about the atmosphere - movement, sound and smell.

Lost Phone – Please Help 📱 If anyone who attended

Lost Phone – Please Help 📱
If anyone who attended the workshop or gathering at the Pottery Woolshed on Sunday has found, or accidentally taken, a black Samsung Galaxy S22 in a glittery cover, please message us urgently. Thank you for helping us reunite it with its owner.

Works taking shape on Day 2. #waiclay2025 #pottery

Works taking shape on Day 2. #waiclay2025 #pottery #nzpottery #nzceramics #ceramicsnz #andiledyalvane #nzpotters

Most of the Waiclay team helping at the Woolshed

Most of the Waiclay team helping at the Woolshed Pottery workshop. L-R @nkuthazo_alexis_dyalvane @andiledyalvane @johnparkerceramics @fionactunnicliffe Duncan Shearer @rahu_road_pottery Janet Smith @grannysmith1910 David Lloyd, Trish Seddon.
@hlalanathi_radebe @marionmanson Julie Burwell.

Hands in clay, first day of workshop. #waiclay225

Hands in clay, first day of workshop. #waiclay225 #nzpottery #nzceramics #ceramicsnz #andiledyalvane #nzpotters

More from last nights Waiclay Awards and opening.

More from last nights Waiclay Awards and opening.

#nelsonpotterysupplies #waiclay2025

#nelsonpotterysupplies #waiclay2025

Waiclay Awards. Imposter @collispotmaker is accept

Waiclay Awards. Imposter @collispotmaker is accepting Premier Award on behalf of Liz Sharek! 👏👏👏👏#waiclay2025 #congratulations #awardwinners #waikatomuseum

Another stunning day in Hamilton for ‘Salon’ exhib

Another stunning day in Hamilton for ‘Salon’ exhibition at David Lloyd Gallery.
#davidlloydgallery #waiclay2025 #salondesrefusés #nzceramics #nzpottery

Catch this exhibition over the weekend. #waiclay20

Catch this exhibition over the weekend. #waiclay2025 #salondesrefusés #davidlloydgallery

A truly special night celebrating our Waiclay open

A truly special night celebrating our Waiclay opening and awards ceremony. What an inspiring start to the exhibition!
Congratulations to all our award winners, and a huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making it possible!
Premier Award - Primo Clay - $3000 - Pirouette -Liz Sharek
Merit Award - Woodstoke - $1000 - No time on my hands - Fiona Tunnicliffe
Merit Award - Driving Creek Residency - Mother’s Embrace Yasmin Davis
Merit Award - Bot Pots $500 voucher - Shards of the Past - Cat Thompson
Merit Award - The Clay Centre - $300 Cash - Navigating the Portal - Margaret Sumich
Merit Award- Kiwi Underglaze $350 voucher - 2nd Edition Intrinsic No. 2 - Blue Black
Merit Award - CCG $ 250 voucher - The Red Earth - Penny Ericson
Merit Award - Nelson Pottery Supplies - $200 voucher – Ti Touka Palisades – Mandy Gargiulo Judgrs Special Mention- Daisy Biscuit.
More to come tomorrow.
#waiclay #ceramicnz #nzpottery #waikatomuseum #awards Iggy #waiclay2025 #claycommunity

We were honoured to experience a very special pōwh

We were honoured to experience a very special pōwhiri at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery this morning, welcoming Andile, Alexis, and Nathi.
Sonny Karena, Pou Ārahi, and the museum team welcomed us on to the marae, followed by a moving Welcome to Country ceremony led by Andile and Alexis down by the beautiful Waikato River. A truly memorable start to their time here. #powiri #nzpottery #nzceramics #waiclay2025 @andiledyalvane @nkuthazo_alexis_dyalvane @nathigumede8 @

It’s all go at the Roto-o-Rangi Woolshed as we get

It’s all go at the Roto-o-Rangi Woolshed as we get everything ready for Andile’s weekend workshop—and prepare to keep our hungry potters happily fuelled! Thirty lucky makers are gearing up for an inspiring hand-building experience.
Waiclay President and super-host Janet Smith takes a well-deserved tea break with our kitchen angel, Diane Kelly.
#Waiclay2025 #CeramicsWorkshop #ClayCommunity #HandBuilding #PotteryLife #CreativeAotearoa #BehindTheScenes #PottersAtWork #ArtWorkshops #NZArts @andiledyalvane

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