CREATIVE HANDS, LASTING LEGACY
Celebrating 50 years of creativity, Kowhai Art & Craft has been a cornerstone of the Warkworth community since its founding in 1975.
The group's origins date back to 1974, when five former night-school potters, led by the late Mooreen Cameron, sought to continue their craft together. With a shared vision and limited resources, they met in private homes before securing the use of a disused cowshed in Sandspit. Affectionately dubbed “The Mud Slingers Inn,” it became the location for their fortnightly meetings. When a newly purchased kiln proved too large for the steep track to the shed, a local business stepped in to help – a pattern of community support that continues to this day.
In 1975, the group formalised as Kowhai Crafts, envisioning a creative hub for local makers. Membership was initially capped at 20 due to limited facilities. But the dream was bigger: to create a permanent studio, workshop and gallery space for the region’s many talented craftspeople. With support from Rotary, fundraising efforts, and incorporation as a society in 1976, the foundations were laid.
In 1977, the club purchased a former Keith Hay office building and moved it to its present site on leased land at the Warkworth Showgrounds. The grand opening followed a year later, with Sir Keith and Lady Hay as honoured guests.
Membership grew steadily, and today the club welcomes between 120 and 130 members – the ideal number for its vibrant, fully utilised facilities. Over the decades, the club has expanded to include a pottery workspace, a kiln room, wheelchair access, and a purpose-built print room, thanks to local council support.
Now home to 11 active groups – including pottery, spinning, weaving, felting, stitching, leatherwork, printmaking, and flax weaving – Kowhai Art & Craft continues to thrive as a space for shared creativity, learning and connection. Members over 16 can join for an annual fee and attend as many groups as they like, with visitors also welcome.
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the club will host its annual Art-Full Weekend exhibition from 7-9 November at Matakana Hall, including a special display of members’ work from years past – a fitting tribute to a half-century of hands-on creativity.
As a place where members share knowledge, support one another, and learn together, Kowhai Art & Craft’s pioneering spirit and deep community roots will no doubt carry it into the next 50 years.
www.KAC.nz | secretary@KAC.nz