• Management Staff & Board Members

Front (L-R) Trevor Snookes, Treasurer Miki Zhang, Chairperson Wenmiao Bian, General Manager Clint Taniguchi, Jake Officer | Back (L-R) Taryn Ramsay, Will Jiang, Deputy Chair Shane Oerder, Emme Stols, Val O’Reilly, Secretary Kathie Boyd

Board of Trustees

The Mairangi Arts Centre is a Charitable Trust which employs a small team dedicated to the day-to-day running of the Centre. MAC’s overarching governance is administered by a Trust Board. Board members serve on a three-year, voluntary basis and are responsible for achieving the centre’s long term vision and strategic objectives, and for ensuring that we continue to serve the needs of the local community

Trustees’ Profiles

Wenmiao Bian, Chairperson
Wenmiao is a resident of Torbay and was a corporate lawyer of multinational companies in Beijing, China before her family moved to New Zealand in 2015. Since coming to New Zealand, Wenmiao has continued her service in the legal and education fields and has been deeply involved in the local community as a volunteer. She is one of the founders and the project manager of the Families Growth and Thrive Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization based in North Shore providing cultural and educational support to new migrant families. Wenmiao is dedicated to promoting opportunities for new immigrants to learn about, engage with and participate in local New Zealand arts and culture.

Weili (Miki) Zhang, Treasurer

Miki moved to Murrays Bay in early 2026 and is passionate about contributing to the local community. With over 15 years of experience in human resources and business partnering across multinational organisations, and current experience working in an accounting firm while volunteering at Belmont Intermediate School, she brings expertise in strategy, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, and operational improvement. Miki enjoys painting and handcrafting and values the important role arts centre plays in fostering creativity, wellbeing, and community connection. She looks forward to contributing her governance, financial oversight, and community engagement experience to support Mairangi Arts Centre.

Karen Gardiner
Karen Gardiner is a local resident, teacher and trustee of The Chartwell Trust, a privately managed charitable trust whose mission is to support and articulate the value and impact of the visual arts. She is co-Director of the Chartwell outreach project called Squiggla, which encourages everyone to understand themselves as creative thinkers through the power of mark making. She hopes to enable a deeper engagement by the local community in the processes of thinking, seeing, doing and being through art and creative visual thinking for all.

Dr Val O’Reilly

Dr Val O’Reilly (Kāi Tahu) is from Te Wai Pounamu/the South Island and has lived on the North Shore for over 30 years. Val believes creative practice is an important expression of, and outlet for, individual and community identity. Although her first love is painting, Val has studied raranga (traditional Māori weaving), toi ataata (Māori visual arts), and recently started a journey in ceramics with the Mairangi Arts Centre. In her mahi with colleagues at The Career Development Company, Val works with individuals and organisations across New Zealand to support their career journeys.

Jake Officer

Jake is a full-time Law and Commerce student, majoring in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He has lived in Abu Dhabi for 11 years and in Mairangi Bay for the past 7 years. Jake spent years at the Mairangi Tennis Club and enjoys being part of an axe-throwing league. He is committed to using the skills from his studies in a practical way to give back and positively impact his community.

Trevor Snookes

Trevor has been involved in education all his life. Serving as a school principal for many years , Trevor’s career has transitioned to now currently as an Evaluative Lecturer at AUT. Always been interested in art, he is a talented artist who gives his artworks away. Trevor look s forward to contributing to the MAC as a Trustee.

Will Jiang, CA

Originally from China, Will relocated to New Zealand in 2012 and has proudly called Milford home since 2021. He firmly believes that the ability to appreciate art will only grow in significance as we navigate the age of AI. Professionally, Will is a Chartered Accountant holding dual Master’s degrees in Accounting and Law. He looks forward to contributing his skills and experience in strategy, finance, legal, and general management to the Mairangi Arts Centre board. Outside of his professional and not-for-profit commitments, Will’s latest passion is re-exploring the world through the eyes of his young daughter, Skye.

Management Staff

CLINT TANIGUCHI
General Manager

MAC Clint Taniguchi

09 478 2237
manager@mairangiarts.co.nz

CHRISTINE CURREY
Administrator

MAC Christine Currey profile

09 478 2237
christine@mairangiarts.co.nz

CAITLIN PALMER
Customer Service Coordinator

09 478 2237
office@mairangiarts.co.nz

KAREN ISHIDA
Weekend Gallery Minder

09 478 2237
info@mairangiarts.co.nz

The MAC Members’ Merit Exhibition is opening soon, and we can’t wait to welcome you! Come celebrate the vibrant creativity of our community, from youthful imagination to seasoned artistry all right here at Mairangi Arts Centre.

- Dates: 17 October – 7 November 2026 
- Location: Main & Hewson Galleries, 20 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay 
- Gallery Space: Main & Hewson Galleries 

Explore a lively mix of 2D paintings, prints, drawings, and striking 3D ceramic and sculptural works, all created by local artists. Exciting awards await our adult and youth creators, with prizes ranging from gift vouchers to art supply bundles.

While you wander the galleries, cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award and help decide the $50 MAC prize. All artworks are available for purchase, supporting our talented members directly.

Free entry, open weekdays 9:30 am–4:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am–2:00 pm. See you at the exhibition
Spring into Mairangi Arts Centre on Saturday 17 October 11am-1pm for free family-friendly fun as we launch new community projects and open our MAC Members' Merit Exhibition:
 
- Explore and add your own creation to our Secret Garden*
- Discover the wonder of plants in our Sanctuary For the Senses*
- At 12pm, join us for the MAC Merit Award Ceremony and view the artworks by our members. 

* These community projects are part of the "Curious Creatures of Mairangi Bay" digital trail proudly  supported by Auckland Council, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, Woolworths Mairangi Bay and Foundation North.
Curious Creatures of Mairangi Bay is landing at the Play Tree on Saturday, 17 October! From 10 am to 2 pm, magical penguins will be waiting to spark games, wonder and playful discovery for all ages.

Grab your phone, scan the QR code and dive into a free digital activity trail that you can enjoy any time during the day. All you need is curiosity and a sense of adventure!

To celebrate the launch we’ve added extra play stations, a face painter and a few surprise treats—just for you. The Play Tree sits right next to the Harbour Beach Volleyball Centre on Maxwelton Drive, so swing by and let the penguins guide your fun.

A special thanks to Auckland Council, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, and the Mairangi Arts Centre for making this possible, and to our local Primary and Intermediate students who designed the penguins. See you there, penguins!
✨ Meet our new tutor, Mark Whippy ✨

We’re delighted to welcome Mark to our team, who will be teaching Oil Portrait Painting Fundamentals✨

Mark is a figurative artist who paints portraits and figures with expressive realism.  He studied Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design and Watts Atelier of the Arts, and teaches life drawing for animation students at AUT.

🎨 What can first-time oil painters expect?
“I have an approach to oil painting that is similar to charcoal drawing which makes it more forgiving. It allows room to keep things loose and expressive while still learning about the structure of the face to have the balance of looseness and realism to combine the best of both. It allows the artist to also input their own decisions and mark making into the piece. As we progress, we will learn about colours through limited palettes which makes colour mixing very simple."

🎨 What do you think brings a portrait to life and gives it character?
"Looking for the subjects personality, their story, what is interesting about that person, what kind of mood  they show. Sometimes it helps to simply look at the subject and thinking about what is the most interesting thing to you about the subject that is in front of you, what is the story you can see and how can you tell this story to the viewer in the painting. I also think allowing paint to be paint is important in a portrait, Taking advantage of the nature of what the paint can do that a photo doesn't already do."

Book his class here:
Oil Portrait Painting Fundamentals | Wednesdays 9:30am-12:30am (adults)
https://mairangi-arts-centre.live.baluu.co.uk/event/oil-portrait-painting-fundamentals-with-mark-whippy-1788213144
🏺 ONE-DAY POTTERY CLASSES | OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

Want to give pottery a go without committing to a full-term class? Join us for a one-day pottery session at Mairangi Arts Centre.

Get creative with clay, try something new and make a piece of your own to take home. Perfect for beginners and anyone who loves getting their hands dirty!

✨ Only $55 – all materials and firing* included!

October & November sessions available
📅 Sundays, 18 October – 15 November
⏰ 4:00–6:30pm
📍 Mairangi Arts Centre

Spaces are limited, so book your session now! 👐✨

👉 Book online here: https://shorturl.at/96QnY

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