TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty – Fundraising Art Auction
Webb’s supports Māori art and artists on the worldwide stage
Chelsea Winstanley shooting curator Nigel Borell at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for the documentary.
Chelsea Winstanley (Ngāti Ranginui), Academy Award‑nominated producer.
Producer Chelsea Winstanley, a trailblazer in Indigenous storytelling, released her documentary TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty in 2025. The film documents the preparation and presentation of Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art (December 2020 – May 2021) at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki — the largest exhibition of contemporary Māori art ever staged in Aotearoa New Zealand.
After selling out screenings at the New Zealand International Film Festival, the documentary is set to reach a major international milestone, with its overseas premiere scheduled for February 2026 at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California.
To support the film’s international journey on the world stage, a special fundraising event was held on Thursday 29 January at Auckland Art Gallery. Proceeds from the evening will fund travel to Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Berlinale and beyond, alongside publicity support to help secure international sales and distribution for this fiercely independent film.
Lots 5, 9, and 13 featured in the ‘TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty’ Fundraising Art Auction.
Lot 14 featured in the ‘TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty’ Fundraising Art Auction. Photo by David St George.
Held in a deeply celebratory and mana‑filled setting, the TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty fundraising art auction brought together artists, supporters and whānau for an unforgettable evening. The night opened with a screening of the documentary, followed by a thoughtful and engaging Q&A with Nigel Borell, setting the wairua for what followed.
From left to right: Caolan McAleer, Chelsea Winstanley, and Nigel Borell.
The auction itself was a resounding success. With all but one lot finding a new home, the sale raised $120,350, an outstanding result in support of TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty and its kaupapa.
Two works by Taika Waititi came under the hammer for the very first time and far exceeded expectations. Created in 1999, the works utilised New Zealand one‑dollar bills as their canvas, employing Waititi’s signature humour to comment on colonisation. Taika was present on the night and generously hand‑signed the works in person, much to the delight of an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. Each work carried a pre‑sale estimate of $5,000, with Webb’s auctioneer Caolan McAleer eventually bringing the hammer down at $22,500 and $20,000 respectively.
Webb’s auctioneer Caolan McAleer. Photo by David St George.
The kaupapa for the event began months earlier with a simple yet powerful act of generosity. Artist Star Gossage told Chelsea, “If you ever want to do a fundraiser, I’ll do you a painting.” That offer became the catalyst for the entire event. From there, the whakaaro grew, drawing people together around a shared vision. Star went on to create two exceptional works especially for the occasion.
Winstanley says the donations will enable the team to dream bigger than they ever had, to enter the film in multiple festivals and competitions, represent the film around the world and fly the flag for Aotearoa NZ arts, “Having the ability to be ready to respond to any festival or market is an independent filmmaker's dream. I am well on my way to creating the distribution roll out I only dreamed of five years ago. Ngā mihi to everyone who showed up for me, for the arts and for independent film!”
'TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty’ Fundraising Art Auction night. Photo by David St George.
The event was generously supported by Tim Melville Gallery, Gow Langsford, WORLD, and the artists themselves, whose collective mana, aroha and generosity made the evening possible.
Contact
Caolán McAleer
Principal Auctioneer
caolan@webbs.co.nz
+64 27 929 5603
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