Latest news with #MinistryforCultureandHeritage
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Māori artist Fred Graham dies, New Zealand arts community pays tribute
'Uncle Fred was a gentleman, a happy-go-lucky kind of person. 'He was an example for the young ones... not just in the art world... His mantra was 'whatever you set your mind to, you can be successful in'.' Papa said while Graham had now passed on to the realm of night, his art was his biggest legacy and would last for generations to come. Papa said numerous people from all over New Zealand, including artist Kura Te Waru Rewiri, and others from Wellington, Palmerston North and the Bay of Plenty, had already come to Pōhara Marae near Cambridge to pay their respects. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage said on social media Graham was a 'formidable presence' in Aotearoa New Zealand's art scene. 'Graham's legacy in Māori art will be remembered in the story of New Zealand for years to come.' Creative New Zealand said they acknowledged the passing of a 'larger than life artist, mentor, and trailblazer in the world of Māori arts'. 'A master carver, sculptor, and educator, his contributions have profoundly shaped the landscape of Aotearoa's artistic identity and elevated the presence and prestige of Māori art nationally and internationally,' the statement reads. 'His legacy is one of integrity, innovation, and deep cultural grounding.' Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery Museum & Arts director Liz Cotton said Graham was 'a true pioneer'. 'He will be greatly missed both as an artist and as a mentor who generously shared his maatauranga with younger generations,' Cotton said. 'Matua Fred's legacy will continue to be felt across the motu and here at the Museum. As visitors enter our foyer, they are welcomed by his beautiful sculpture 'Keriana' which was carved in 1984 and represents a bird that shelters the young under her wing. 'Also, the beloved centrepiece of our marae aatea is the bold and symbolic waharoa 'Te Mauri o Te Iwi'. 'Moe mai raa e te Rangatira.' Graham represented New Zealand at many international exhibitions throughout his career, including the 1986 Te Ao Marama (Seven Māori Artists) exhibition that toured Australia and a 1992 United States tour showcasing contemporary Māori art. In 2017 he received the Creative New Zealand Te Waka Toi supreme award for his lifetime of service to the advancement of Māori art and cultural leadership. More recently he exhibited at the Venice Biennale, where several of his paintings and sculptures shared a gallery space with the work of his son, Brett Graham. In 1955, Graham was selected as a Māori All Black, and played three games. Graham was also a teacher, starting his career in Northland, before moving to Toihoukura in Gisborne and Papakura High School where he was head of art in the 1960s and 70s. At PHS, he coached the First XV to win the Moascar Cup in 1970. In the 2025 New Year Honours, he was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori art. In 2018, he was made an officer of the NZ Order of Merit. Graham has produced sculptures that are displayed in many New Zealand cities and towns as well as international galleries. His recent work includes the sculpture 'Waka Maumahara' located between the four-lane Hamilton section and the SH1C offramp and 'Te Manu Rangimaarie' (bird of peace) at the Piarere roundabout just north of Tīrau. Other work is in the courtyard of the High Court at Auckland (Justice), on the wall outside Auckland Art Gallery (Te Waka Toi o Tamaki) and in the Auckland Domain (Kaitiaki). Graham was preparing for the opening of the exhibition 'Fred Graham: Toi Whakaata / Reflections' at Christchurch Art Gallery. His nephew Papa said it was still to be confirmed if it would go ahead. Graham previously lived in Waiuku. He was the beloved husband of the late Norma and leaves behind his children Gary, Paula, Kathryn, Brett and Kara, and nine grandchildren. His funeral service will be held in Ngāruawāhia at the Chapel at Hopuhopu Sports Grounds (451 Old Taupiri Rd), which Graham designed together with Norma, at 11am tomorrow. Papa said anyone who would like to farewell Graham was welcome.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Marking Victory In Europe Day's 80th Anniversary
Press Release – New Zealand Government New Zealand played a crucial role in the Second World War, with about 140,000 New Zealanders serving in military forces overseas, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Hon Judith Collins KC Minister of Defence Hon Chris Penk Minister for Veterans The Government is encouraging New Zealanders to mark Victory in Europe Day's 80th anniversary today by paying tribute to those who fought for freedom and peace. 'On the 8th of May 1945, the Second World War in Europe came to an end, bringing relief and hope to millions after six years of devastating conflict,' Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 'Today marks a significant milestone in world history, and a poignant moment for New Zealand. 'I encourage all New Zealanders to commemorate this day in their own way. Whether that is by laying a tribute at a local war memorial, pausing to take a moment of quiet reflection, or simply learning more about New Zealand's effort in this global fight for peace,' Mr Goldsmith says. 'New Zealand played a crucial role in the Second World War, with about 140,000 New Zealanders serving in military forces overseas,' Defence Minister Judith Collins says. 'By the end of the war, nearly 12,000 New Zealanders had lost their lives, and 9,000 had been taken as prisoners of war. Many more served on the home front, supporting the war effort in numerous ways.' 'The nation's contributions spanned various theatres of war, from Egypt, Italy, and Greece to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and our people lie in cemeteries around the world. 'We must never forget their service and their sacrifice,' Ms Collins says. 'VE day is a time to remember the immense sacrifice of all who contributed to the Second World War effort, in particular our veterans, of whom fewer than 100 remain with us,' Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. 'As we honour this significant anniversary, we reflect on the courage of those who fought for peace and acknowledge that the most meaningful way to uphold their legacy is by striving for a world free from conflict.' The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has detailed a variety of ways people can commemorate this significant moment on its website. The Second World War ended for New Zealand on 15 August 1945, when conflict ceased in the Asia-Pacific region with Japan's surrender.
Scoop
07-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Marking Victory In Europe Day's 80th Anniversary
The Government is encouraging New Zealanders to mark Victory in Europe Day's 80th anniversary today by paying tribute to those who fought for freedom and peace. 'On the 8th of May 1945, the Second World War in Europe came to an end, bringing relief and hope to millions after six years of devastating conflict,' Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 'Today marks a significant milestone in world history, and a poignant moment for New Zealand. 'I encourage all New Zealanders to commemorate this day in their own way. Whether that is by laying a tribute at a local war memorial, pausing to take a moment of quiet reflection, or simply learning more about New Zealand's effort in this global fight for peace,' Mr Goldsmith says. 'New Zealand played a crucial role in the Second World War, with about 140,000 New Zealanders serving in military forces overseas,' Defence Minister Judith Collins says. 'By the end of the war, nearly 12,000 New Zealanders had lost their lives, and 9,000 had been taken as prisoners of war. Many more served on the home front, supporting the war effort in numerous ways.' 'The nation's contributions spanned various theatres of war, from Egypt, Italy, and Greece to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and our people lie in cemeteries around the world. 'We must never forget their service and their sacrifice,' Ms Collins says. 'VE day is a time to remember the immense sacrifice of all who contributed to the Second World War effort, in particular our veterans, of whom fewer than 100 remain with us,' Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. 'As we honour this significant anniversary, we reflect on the courage of those who fought for peace and acknowledge that the most meaningful way to uphold their legacy is by striving for a world free from conflict.' The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has detailed a variety of ways people can commemorate this significant moment on its website. The Second World War ended for New Zealand on 15 August 1945, when conflict ceased in the Asia-Pacific region with Japan's surrender.
Miami Herald
05-03-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Dad and son stumble upon ‘one of the most important finds of all time in Polynesia'
On a remote island of New Zealand, a dad and son searching for salvageable wood noticed some 'strange-looking' sticks — and found a significant historic site. Follow-up excavations uncovered hundreds of wood pieces, rope fibers and possibly sail fabric from an old canoe. Last fall, Vincent Dix and his son Nikau passed by a creek near their home on Chatham Island, a remote archipelago off the eastern coast of New Zealand's main islands, and noticed several wood pieces sticking out of the sand, according to Wharekauri Farm Waka, a Facebook account dedicated to their finds. '(It was) pretty much the normal day really, sort of just thought it was a bit of rubbish wood lying around,' Vincent told Te Ao with Moana, a New Zealand TV news show, in a March 3 video. But to Nikau the wood seemed 'unusual,' 'strange-looking' and 'very well made,' he said in the video. When the pair returned to the site, they found a more elaborately carved piece and knew they'd found a waka. 'Waka is the Māori word for canoe,' according to the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. The term can refer to a wide range of boats made by 'ancestors of Māori' over the span of millennia and includes rafts, dugout canoes, double-hulled canoes and others. New Zealand's Ministry for Culture and Heritage verified the family's finds — which already included roughly 20 canoe fragments — in mid-January and sent a team of archaeologists for follow-up excavations. As archaeologists and volunteers began sifting through the sand, they were stunned. More and more wood fragments kept surfacing. Photos shared by cultural officials in a March 4 Facebook post show the pile of partially excavated wood. Wood is generally considered a rare material for archaeologists to find because it easily disintegrates over time unless preserved by water. 'We can't overstate how incredible it is,' the excavation's lead archaeologist Justin Maxwell told The Guardian. 'It is by far the most important discovery in New Zealand, possibly Polynesia, and it will go down as one of the most important finds of all time in Polynesia.' Before they began excavations, archaeologists believed 'the holy grail would have been to find some of the sail, or some of the twine that held things together, or some of the rope or the caulking,' Maxwell told Te Ao with Moana. 'We found all of that. It's completely blown our minds …. This is, by far and away, the most amazing excavation I've ever had the privilege to work on.' So far, excavations have uncovered 'more than 450 waka (canoe) pieces and other items of interest,' cultural officials said in a March 4 news release. Photos show some of the 'incredibly rare' braided ropes and textile finds. Much about the historic canoe remains unknown, including its age, place of origin and the original shape of the boat or boats. Excavations at the site on Chatham Island have finished, but officials plan to continue analyzing and preserving the finds. 'To find all of these components preserved is incredible and it's going to help us learn so much more about Polynesian waka technology,' Maxwell told The Guardian. The Chatham Islands are about 500 miles southeast of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.
