Portrait - 47

Arama Cooper, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Christchurch

Spotted at AFFIRM Aranui Family Festival

Christchurch, Dec 2011

From the Tattoo Files

Seen at the 10th AFFIRM Aranui Family Festival,

Aranui, Christchurch

December 3, 2011.

Performing in the Square

A few days ago, I spent a couple of hours hanging about in Christchurch's Cathedral Square. It was a roasting hot, sunny day and the place was packed with locals and visitors alike. Buskers were also out in force - jugglers, a flute player, a singer/guitarist, The Wizard and this young kapa haka group raising funds - I think - for their trip to compete in a kapa haka contest.

I stood and watched them for some time, thinking how good it was that they were willing to get out and 'sing for their supper' as it were. They were very good too. But I was also listening to a much older Maori guy singing and playing the guitar. He had a terrific voice and when it came to making a donation, I chose to my money in his guitar case, rather than in that of the kapa haka group.

But as my $5 note floated down to land among his coins, he suddenly stopped playing and announced "Cool, I have enough for a couple of packets of smokes now. I might call it a day."

I wanted to snatch my $5 back and I felt sick that I was supporting his bad habit rather than the young talents of the kapa haka group.

I'll certainly make a better choice next time. In the meantime, I hope the crowds watching this talented group of young performers have helped them get some way towards their competitions.

The Art Of Bone

Hei Matau (fish hooks) in Bone

On Sale at the Cathedral Square Markets

Christchurch

May 2010. Ajr

Maori Place Names - 48

Kaiapoi Railway Station

Kaiapoi, North of Christchurch

South Island

One Waka, One Lake

A Rare Sight

One Waka

(canoe)

Crossing the lake

Clearwater Estate, Christchurch

Maori Place Names - 45

Kia Ora Street

Aranui, Christchurch

South Island

December 2009. Ajr

More from the Markets

Carved Heru

(Hair Combs)

In Bone

Cathedral Square Markets, Christchurch.

October 2009. Ajr

Unravelling History

I’ve spent some weeks now trying to find out about this gorgeous little whare - called Te Whakaruruhau - which I spied on Ferry Road here in Christchurch, when I was driving past one day. Turns out it was once part of the now-closed Te Waipounamu Maori Girls’ College, and Anglican initiative that was established in 1909 in the old St Alban's Vicarage in Mill Road, Ohoka, not too far from the Maori settlement of Tuahiwi (home to the Ngai Tahu hapu, Ngai Tuahuriri).

Tuahiwi was a large, thriving Maori community then and was also home to a Maori mission, which was established in the 19th century. I’ve featured the historic Maori church (1867) on this blog previously. It still is a largely Maori community but it's much smaller - now a cluster of houses, primary school, sports grounds, the church, a marae - just north of Christchurch.

Te Waipounamu was the only Maori girls’ boarding school in the South Island and by 1921 (1926 according to some other accounts), it had moved to Christchurch and girls from all over New Zealand attended because of the school’s excellent reputation for teaching Maori language and culture. This beautifully carved little whare was the old school chapel. In Christchurch, the school served many decades and then became a college hostel for Maori school girls. The site – to the best of my knowledge – is now a Maori cultural centre incorporating a hostel and educational facilities. That’s all I’ve been able to find out. If anyone has any further information, I’d love you to leave a comment below.

A Winter View

Carved Waharoa

(Gateway)

Phillipstown, Christchurch

October 2009

Leaf Prints

I photographed these 'leaf castings' in Cathedral Square. There are about ten of them cast into the base of Neil Dawnson's 'Chalice,' each depicting one of the native trees, ferns or plants of the Christchurch area.

Market Enterprise

Kete For Sale

Decorated with Paua Shells

Riccarton Rotary Market
Christchurch

September 2009 Ajr

A Passing Moment....

.....on a bus.

Kotane Maori

Christchurch

www.kotane.co.nz

Festival Opening

Tuahiwi Kapa Haka Group outside Christchurch Cathedral

One of the major sponsors of this year’s Christchurch Arts Festival Winter Garden 2009, is Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and last night I went along to see the Te Ngai Tuahuriri kapa haka group perform at the opening in Cathedral Square. Thankfully the rain held off and a crowd of several thousand people came along to see a series of mixed performers kick of a terrific calendar of events that runs through until August 9th. There are several Ngai Tahu-initiated shows during the festival and I’ll bring you more about those in the coming days. In the meantime, here are a few moody shots from a night filled with lights and laughter. www.artsfestiavl.co.nz www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz
Waiting between performances while opening speeches are made
The men perform a rousing haka

A visual compilation from the night

Art - Inside and Out

Christchurch. July 2009. Ajr

I was wandering through the Christchurch Arts Centre Market last weekend when I noticed this paint job on the outside of Te Toi Mana Maori Art Gallery, which is where leading Maori carver, Riki Manuel bases himself. In addition to Riki's carving studio, which has a glass wall so you can watch him at work, the gallery also presents a great selection of traditional and contemporary Maori paintings, drawings, crafts and sculptures. I don't remember the building being painted like this on the exterior though. Maybe it's had a facelift in the months I've been out of Christchurch researching and writing Frommers New Zealand? Or maybe some garden greenery has been removed. Not that it matters of course. The good thing is, now you can't miss it!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat......

Image Supplied by Christchurch Canterbury Tourism
In a city that is supposedly "New Zealand's most English," this would have to be one of the most unexpected things you're ever likely to see. - a Maori waka (canoe), being paddled up Christchurch's Avon River in the middle of the city. I love the crazy unexpectedness of it. This is the waka Te Kowhai, purpose-built for the Christchurch tourism operation, Katoro Waka Heritage Tours. Katoro is the brainchild of Dave Brennan (Ngai Tahu) of Kotane Maori Experience at Willowbank, in partnership with his brothers, James and Aoraki Brennan, who launched the business in 2007. Te Kowhai seats 10 paddlers but has the capacity for 15 people. The tau iho (nose) and the tau rapa (bow) of the waka were carved by Te Ari Brennan, making it a full family affair. www.katoro.co.nz www.kotane.co.nz

Southern Performers

Willowbank, Christchurch. February 2009 Ajr


It seems forever since I brought you any Ngai Tahu material. That's because I've been away travelling for two months and I have so much fabulous stuff from the North Island that I'm dying to share. So just to even things up a little, here's another shot from the Kotane cultural performance group, entertaining guests at the Willowbank Wildlife Park in Christchurch. http://www.kotane.co.nz/ www.willowbank.co.nz

Market Pounamu

Pounamu

For Sale

@

Riccarton Rotary Market

Christchurch

Kete on Display

Woven kete

@

The Arts Centre Market

Christchurch

I Do.

Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch. Feb 2009 Ajr

I came upon this Maori wedding party when I was out walking in the city this afternoon. They were having their wedding photographs taken right in the middle of Worcester Boulevard. Along with the official photographers - shuffling everyone into place - there were at least a dozen tourists taking photographs too. I thought I may as well pretend to be one of them.