H.K. Taiaroa – Impact and Influence

19th century Kāi Tahu rakatira and political leader, Hōri Kerei (H.K.) Taiaroa was a beautiful and prolific writer in te reo Māori. His many personal manuscripts are taoka and offer a wellspring of knowledge which Megan Pōtiki has long studied. Excerpts of these manuscripts have inspired the newly created artworks within this exhibition.

Megan Pōtiki hails from Ōtākou, and has whakapapa to Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha and Te Ātiawa iwi. Megan is the Executive Director for the Otago Polytechnic, and in 2023 she completed a PhD focused on the death of te reo Māori at Ōtākou. Her research interests also focus on the written Māori archives of the past that have a particular geographical focus on the tribal region of Kāi Tahu, this includes writings by Hōri Kerei Taiaroa.

This event is presented in collaboration with the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival.

FREE 11am Saturday 18 October

[Image: Ephraim Russell (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rangitāne ki Tamaki Nui ā Rua), Kā Tai Roa o Taumutu 3.0, 2025.]