| WITARINA Respected TE ARAWA KUIA |
Watch this space
First Public Viewing 12th June 2008
5pm Rotorua District Council
First Public Viewing 12th June 2008
5pm Rotorua District Council
| Original OIL PAINTING by Peter Jean Caley WITARINA is painted in traditional dress and reflecting her Whakapapa to Mokoia Island, the carving of Tutanekai standing beside her,and above is her Wharenui,Tama Tekapua on her Marae of Ohinemutu,where she was born and died at a great age of 101 years.Also shown is the insignia of her Queens Service Medal. |
| Witarina Te Miriarangi Parewahaika Harris,a respected Kuia of TeArawa iwi (tribe).She was New Zealand's first International film star playing the leading role in the 1920's Universal Pictures production"THE DEVILS PIT".. Granddaughter of the Rangatira -Chief who donated land to Rotorua so that the town could be founded. Witarina earned the Queens Service Medal, for services in the Maori Womens Welfare League Was a founder of NGATI PONEKE MAORI Club Opened the Rotorua Energy Events Center with the Prime MInister Rt.Hon.Helen Clark 2007, built on land that her grandfather had given to Rotorua. Kaumatua for the National Film Archives Her WISH was not to be Forgotten as she wanted to work on after her death to inspire Mokopuna (young people) |
| News Flash This Beautiful painting is now finished,it is of National Importance and for New Zealand of Cultural significence as it shows the Whakapapa or links of Witarina to Te Arawa. Masterfully painted by a Maori Artist. Yet the painting has been ridiculed by so called Art Appraisers who have not seen this original and are ignorant of the Cultural importance these paintings are to NEW ZEALAND. There is a ELEMENT in New Zealand that does NOT want Maori Portraits given the MANA or respect due to them.It took 50 years to get the Museums to hang Goldie or Lindauer paintings, These were kept in storerooms or basements,it was INTERNATIONAL pressure that allowed the Public to see them.This Artist has experienced the same backlash to his career by painting Maori Portraits. Yet a Japanese Art Professor studied this artists style and quote",he is most contemporary artist whose style will be discussed in Art Faculties around the World". When Peter exhibited in Florence and saw the history of Europe that goes back thousands of years,where is New Zealands Art history of meaningful works.? Surely not Mc cahon I cannot see any cultural or historical importance in those paintings |
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| http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/VolcanicPlateau/VolcanicPlateau/7/en more about Witarina Harris |