Te Mahi Toi o Ngāti Rangitihi - Ngāti Rangitihi ArtsPart of our long-term strategy to assist the development of Ngāti Rangitihi is the establishment of an Arts and Cultural Centre in Matatā. Rangitihi has a long and colourful history in the arts which continues today as we continue to produce some of New Zealand's most amazing and celebrated artists. Did you know that the widely celebrated whare Nuku-te-Apiapi was carved in Matatā under the direction of our chief Aramakaraka Mokonuiarangi? Did you know that one of our artist's work featured on NZ's most expensive coin ever issued and another has exhibited work all over the world?
Read more about Ngāti Rangitihi’s interesting history in the arts and check out some of the beautiful mahi our contemporary artists are producing below. |     |
Ngāti Rangitihi - Artist Profiles
Celebrating the mahi of our people and educating our rangatahi on the achievements of their whānau is an integral part of the cultural development and education goals set by Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust in our five year Strategic Plan. We are proud to present these profiles on some of our many Ngāti Rangitihi artists so that we may all share in the inspiration, encouragement and pride that their achievements bring.
If you or someone you know is a Ngāti Rangitihi artist, musician or otherwise involved in cultural activities and would like to be featured on our site, click here to contact us.
If you or someone you know is a Ngāti Rangitihi artist, musician or otherwise involved in cultural activities and would like to be featured on our site, click here to contact us.
Charles Raponi Wilson (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tuhourangi)Charles Raponi Wilson grew up in Matatā and has been carving for over 30 years. A self-taught artist, he started carving pounamu in 1980 and honed his skill for five years before he felt comfortable doing heitiki. Since then he has carved at least 1500-2000 heitiki. His favourite materials to work with are whalebone and pounamu. Raponi often draws inspiration from ancestral taonga and admires the work of many other artists. Raponi is widely known as one of the most accomplished heitiki carvers in Aotearoa.
In 2009 Raponi was commissioned by NZ post along with other leading NZ artists to carve a hei tiki to be featured in its annual Matariki stamp series. Raponi's contemporary hei tiki, carved from pounamu, is on the $1.00 stamp. In 2010 Raponi's design was selected to feature on the country’s most valuable legal tender coin ever issued – a one-ounce gold piece valued at NZ$2,650. The coin, which was issued by NZ Post with permission from the reserve bank, was limited to a maximum mintage of 500 and has already sold out. A silver version of the coin set is still available but selling fast, click here to check it out. The coins are housed in a waka huia, or treasure box, by Warren McGrath, master carver to the Maori king. Garry Nicholas, chief executive of Maori Arts New Zealand, said “It’s wonderful that Mr Raponi’s art is featured on this special coin.” Kau mau te wehi ! Click here to view some more of Raponi's mahi. |
Reuben Paterson (Ngāti Rangitihi)
After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious Elam School of Fine Arts in 1997, Reuben Paterson has made his mark on the NZ and international art scene with his unashamedly bright, sparkly and often massive works of art and installations.
Reuben’s whānau are from Matatā and many still reside here, while Reuben has managed to use his artistic skill and talent to blaze a trail all across the world. His resume of exhibitions, awards, fellowships and work reads like a wishlist for any budding contemporary artist. In 2009 his work “Whakapapa: get down upon your knees” was selected from 313 others from 25 countries to feature on the cover of Australia’s most prized art journal, Art & Australia. The sheer scale of the work – 16 square metres in total is testament to Reuben’s visionary ideals and style. Reuben’s mahi has been featured in galleries and exhibitions in NZ, Australia, Rarotonga, Greece, Canada, London, Spain, Prague, Brazil, Micronesia, Lithuania, New Caledonia to name a few. His artwork has also featured on the covers for singer Anika Moa’s 2005 Album "Stolen Hill" and iconic NZ band Herbs greatest hits album “Listen”. His signature glitter paintings have even made their way into Brazil’s version of worldwide magazine Fashion Quarterly in the backdrop of a photo shoot. We will continue to watch as Reuben’s career is certain to keep emulating his artistic style: Big, bright and sparkling. Click here to visit Reuben's website. |
Nuku-te-Apiapi - The house that Arama built
The carved house Nuku Te Apiapi was commenced in around 1873 by Aramakaraka te Mokonui-a-rangi, chief of Ngāti Rangitihi at Matatā. The carvers employed were Tara Te Awatapu (also called Te Amo Awatapu) and his pupil Wero Taroi (also known as Karu). Both carvers were from the Ngāti Tarāwhai tribe of Rotoiti.
The carvers worked in Matatā under the direction of Aramakaraka, and for eight years were occupied in carving the interior poupou or wooden slabs supporting the roof. At about that time Aramakaraka died, leaving his daughter, Ngārangikaki, to oversee to the completion of the work. Ngārangikaki later married a chief named Hemana Te Wehi-o-te-rangi and this chief saw that work on the carvings was resumed. Eventually, however, he found that he no longer had sufficient food or means to continue paying Te Amo, the carver.
Hemana therefore decided to visit Te Pokiha, otherwise known as Major Fox, and place the whole matter before him in the hope that he might be induced to advance the money necessary for the project. But Te Pohika was unable to grant the money and Hemana returned to his pa very downhearted and next morning was found dead in his whare. The carvings were then on the beach at Matata and, as it was believed a chief had died because of them, the tohunga of the tribe declared the carvings to be tapu. A shelter was built to protect them from the weather, and there they remained until the year 1900. (Click here to read more)
The carvers worked in Matatā under the direction of Aramakaraka, and for eight years were occupied in carving the interior poupou or wooden slabs supporting the roof. At about that time Aramakaraka died, leaving his daughter, Ngārangikaki, to oversee to the completion of the work. Ngārangikaki later married a chief named Hemana Te Wehi-o-te-rangi and this chief saw that work on the carvings was resumed. Eventually, however, he found that he no longer had sufficient food or means to continue paying Te Amo, the carver.
Hemana therefore decided to visit Te Pokiha, otherwise known as Major Fox, and place the whole matter before him in the hope that he might be induced to advance the money necessary for the project. But Te Pohika was unable to grant the money and Hemana returned to his pa very downhearted and next morning was found dead in his whare. The carvings were then on the beach at Matata and, as it was believed a chief had died because of them, the tohunga of the tribe declared the carvings to be tapu. A shelter was built to protect them from the weather, and there they remained until the year 1900. (Click here to read more)
