The Emergence Award for Young Taranaki Artists 2022 is generously supported by the Taranaki Foundation, through the Taranaki Hauora Fund. The fund was established in 2018 in memory of Leon Squire, son of Kelvin and Carolyn Squire. Creativity is at the heart of the fund, with flexibility to support the hauora (well-being) of rangatahi (young people). Haoro is inspired by the generosity of the Squire family, the memory of Leon and believes in the fund’s ongoing purpose to encourage young creatives in our community. As a result, this work called ‘Tōku reo Tōku ohooho’ was born.

Haoro Hond explains the meaning behind the title of his artwork:
“The title ‘Tōku reo Tōku ohooho’ refers to Leon. In Te Reo Māori there are no ‘L’s or ‘N’s’ in our alphabet, so by converting the ‘L’ to an ‘R’, it ultimately changes his name to ‘Reo’. Leon reawakens me through this piece, its’ his reawakening within me. That’s the belief of finding self-empowerment to create art. Tōku reo Tōku ohooho.”
Haoro Hond (Taranaki, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Te Āti Awa, Ngai Tāmanuhiri). placed Runner-Up for the Emergence Award in 2020. His waharoa / gateway entitled Te Whatawhata Ā Rangi featured recently at the Festival of Lights: Winter Pop-Up in New Plymouth. Haoro is an established artist doing great mahi in Taranaki and a strong advocate supporting our rangatahi to be creative at an early age.