‘Kua marara hoki ngā mana o tōna kaha ki runga i te katoa’

Nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei whakaaturaka e whakanui ana i te rakatira a Hōri Kerei (H.K.) Taiaroa me tōna hoa rakatira a Tini Kerei Taiaroa

Welcome to this celebration of Kāi Tahu rakatira H.K. Taiaroa, and his wife Tini Kerei Taiaroa. H.K. is an esteemed tribal and political leader, and an important tipuna to this place where the Kāi Tahu tribe occupy and govern today.

H.K. was born at Ōtākou to parents Te Mātenga Taiaroa and Mawera (of the Kāi Tahu hapū Kāi Te Ruahikihiki and Kāti Rakiwhakaputa). He was first named Huriwhenua, and as an adult was christened with the name Hōri Kerei after Sir George Grey. He is often referred to as H.K., which he regularly used to sign his papers and letters. Kāi Tahu elders continued to call him Huriwhenua.

H.K. and Tini lived in a time of momentous change. Due to oppressive legislation designed to disempower iwi Māori, and the unfulfilled promises by the Government for schools, hospitals and land reserves, Te Mātenga endowed his son with an ōhākī (dying wish) to continue to challenge the transgressions against Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Consequently, H.K. chose to put down the patu and pick up the pen. In 1871, he was elected to parliament to represent Southern Māori where he passionately battled for the promises made to Kāi Tahu, and Māori, to be honoured.

Taoka tuku iho, artwork, writing and voices of his descendants are woven together in this exhibition to introduce the intriguing life and tenacious work of H.K. Taiaroa. The impact of his work is as significant today, as it was then.

Newly created artworks inspired by his personal writings offer a view into the past and vision for the future.

Let the words of this karaka, or welcoming call, guide your entry, as you dive into this wellspring of knowledge. Allow the mana and kaha of the tīpuna celebrated inside uplift you.

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Nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei whakaaturaka e whakanui ana i te rakatira a Hōri Kerei (H.K.) Taiaroa me tōhona hoa rakatira a Tini Kerei Taiaroa. He upoko ariki, he manukura a H.K., ā, he tipuna whai mana ki tēnei wāhi e noho tou ana, e toutoua toutia ana te ahikā e tōhona iwi o Kāi Tahu.

I whānau mai a H.K. i Ōtākou ki ōhona mātua a Te Mātenga Taiaroa rāua ko Mawera (o kā hapū Kāi Te Ruahikihiki me Kāti Rakiwhakaputa, nō te iwi o Kāi Tahu). I tapaina tuatahi ia ki te ikoa Huriwhenua, ā, hai pakeke ko whakairihia ia ki te ikoa o Sir George Grey, ko Hōri Kerei. Te nuika o te wā e kīia ai ko H.K. tōhona ikoa, rite tou tāhana waitohu i āhana pepa me āhana reta ko H.K. I te mau tou ōhona kaumātua o Kāi Tahu ki te kī atu ko Huriwhenua ia.

Ko te ao hurihuri tou te ao i noho ai a H.K. rāua ko Tini. Nā te taimaha o te ture e hoahoatia ana ki te aupēhi i te iwi Māori, me te hurika o te tuarā o te Kāwana i tā rātau kī tauraki kia hakaia he kura, he hōhipera me te whakarāhuitaka o te whenua, i utaina e Te Mātenga tētahi ōhākī ki ruka i tana tama kia kōkiri tou, kia wero tou kā hara, kā takaka o Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Waihoki, i whiria e H.K. kia waiho ki muri te patu, ā, kia nanaoa ai e ia te pene. I te tau 1871, i pōtihia ia ki te pāremata hai kanohi mō kā Māori o te Toka, i reira pakaka atu ai pau te kaha kia ea ai kā kī tauraki o te karauna ki a Kāi Tahu, ki a Kāi Māori tou. 

Ko kā taoka tuku iho, he mahika toi, he tuhika, me te reo o ōhona uri ko rarakahia tahitia ki tēnei whakaaturaka kia takina te ao whakakārahu, te mahi aumakea o H.K. Taiaroa. He mea nui whakaharahara te pāka mai o āhana mahi i ēnei rā, pēnei i te wā i a ia. 

Ko kā mahika toi hou i whakaawetia e āhana tuhika matawhaiaro e huraina ai te onamata, ā, e matapaehia ai te anamata. 

Tukuna kā kupu o tēnei karaka kia ārahia tō kuhuka mai, tō rukutaka atu ki te rētōtaka o tēnei mātauraka. Tukuna te mana me te kaha o te tipuna e whakanuia ana ki konei ki te whakapiki i tō mauri hoki.

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This exhibition has been developed in collaboration with the Riki Te Mairaki Ellison Taiaroa Whānau Trust.