As a participant in the recent Manu Ao Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga symposium series on the topic of leadership, I learned a great deal about several fundamental aspects of the concept of leadership. This paper builds on that experience and relates selected concepts to the development of art education for Māori and to consider the survival of Māori art and the concepts and values that are embedded in the art practices. Māori art educators continue to be innovative and this has allowed aspects of Māori knowledge to be infused into Aotearoa New Zealand’s mainstream art education. However, it is timely to review the intention and practices of Māori art educators and leaders. Such a review should inform the next generation of Māori art educators and help to establish a stronger collaboration between Māori and mainstream art education and therefore mutually empower all parties.