Latest news with #MāoriBattalion
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
NZ gallery removes controversial flag walking artwork
A New Zealand flag printed with the words "please walk on me" and laid on the floor of an art gallery has once again been packed away following public outcry, 30 years after protests forced the removal of the same artwork. The Suter Art Gallery in the city of Nelson said on Thursday it had removed the work by Māori artist Diane Prince due to escalating tensions and safety fears. The episode mirrored an Auckland gallery's removal of the work amid public backlash and complaints to law enforcement in 1995. This time, the flag was meant to remain on display for five months. Instead, it lasted just 19 days, reigniting long-running debates in New Zealand over artistic expression, national symbols and the country's colonial history. The piece, titled Flagging the Future, is a cloth New Zealand flag displayed on the floor with the words "please walk on me" stencilled across it. The flag features the British Union Jack and red stars on a blue background. The work is part of an exhibition, Diane Prince: Activist Artist, and was meant to provoke reflection on the Māori experience since New Zealand's colonisation by Britain in the 19th century. Prince created the piece in 1995 in response to a government policy that limited compensation to Māori tribes for historical land theft. "I have no attachment to the New Zealand flag," Prince told Radio New Zealand in 2024. "I don't call myself a New Zealander. I call myself a Māori." Prince couldn't be reached immediately for comment Friday. New Zealand's reckoning with its colonial past has gathered pace in recent decades. But there has been little appetite among successive governments to sever the country's remaining constitutional ties to Britain or change the flag to a design that doesn't feature the Union Jack. New Zealand is among countries where desecrating the national flag is considered taboo and prohibited by law. Damaging a flag in public with the intent to dishonour it is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 New Zealand dollars ($A4,641), but prosecutions are fleetingly rare. As in the United States and elsewhere, the country's flag is synonymous for some with military service. But for others, particularly some Māori, it's a reminder of land dispossession and loss of culture and identity. Protests of the artwork in the city of Nelson, population 55,000, included videos posted to social media by a local woman, Ruth Tipu, whose grandfather served in the army's Māori Battalion during World War II. In one clip, she is seen lifting the flag from the floor and draping it over another artwork, an action Tipu said she would repeat daily. A veterans' group also denounced the piece as shameful and offensive. City council member Tim Skinner said he was horrified by the work's inclusion. But others welcomed it. Nelson's deputy mayor, Rohan O'Neill-Stevens, posted on social media: "in strong defence of artistic expression and the right for us all to be challenged and confronted by art." The work was perhaps expected to provoke controversy and in the exhibition's opening days, The Suter Gallery defended its inclusion. But a statement on its Facebook page late Thursday said a "sharp escalation in the tone and nature of the discourse, moving well beyond the bounds of respectful debate" had prompted the flag's removal. "This should not be interpreted as a judgement on the artwork or the artist's intent," the statement said. The gallery didn't detail specific incidents of concern and a gallery spokesperson didn't respond to a request for an interview on Friday. New Zealand's Police said in a statement Friday that while officers were investigating complaints, they weren't called to any disturbances at the exhibition. Prince said when she revived the work in 2024 that threats of prosecution by law enforcement had prompted its removal from the Auckland gallery in 1995. The Nelson gallery didn't suggest in its statement that police involvement had influenced Thursday's decision. A New Zealand flag printed with the words "please walk on me" and laid on the floor of an art gallery has once again been packed away following public outcry, 30 years after protests forced the removal of the same artwork. The Suter Art Gallery in the city of Nelson said on Thursday it had removed the work by Māori artist Diane Prince due to escalating tensions and safety fears. The episode mirrored an Auckland gallery's removal of the work amid public backlash and complaints to law enforcement in 1995. This time, the flag was meant to remain on display for five months. Instead, it lasted just 19 days, reigniting long-running debates in New Zealand over artistic expression, national symbols and the country's colonial history. The piece, titled Flagging the Future, is a cloth New Zealand flag displayed on the floor with the words "please walk on me" stencilled across it. The flag features the British Union Jack and red stars on a blue background. The work is part of an exhibition, Diane Prince: Activist Artist, and was meant to provoke reflection on the Māori experience since New Zealand's colonisation by Britain in the 19th century. Prince created the piece in 1995 in response to a government policy that limited compensation to Māori tribes for historical land theft. "I have no attachment to the New Zealand flag," Prince told Radio New Zealand in 2024. "I don't call myself a New Zealander. I call myself a Māori." Prince couldn't be reached immediately for comment Friday. New Zealand's reckoning with its colonial past has gathered pace in recent decades. But there has been little appetite among successive governments to sever the country's remaining constitutional ties to Britain or change the flag to a design that doesn't feature the Union Jack. New Zealand is among countries where desecrating the national flag is considered taboo and prohibited by law. Damaging a flag in public with the intent to dishonour it is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 New Zealand dollars ($A4,641), but prosecutions are fleetingly rare. As in the United States and elsewhere, the country's flag is synonymous for some with military service. But for others, particularly some Māori, it's a reminder of land dispossession and loss of culture and identity. Protests of the artwork in the city of Nelson, population 55,000, included videos posted to social media by a local woman, Ruth Tipu, whose grandfather served in the army's Māori Battalion during World War II. In one clip, she is seen lifting the flag from the floor and draping it over another artwork, an action Tipu said she would repeat daily. A veterans' group also denounced the piece as shameful and offensive. City council member Tim Skinner said he was horrified by the work's inclusion. But others welcomed it. Nelson's deputy mayor, Rohan O'Neill-Stevens, posted on social media: "in strong defence of artistic expression and the right for us all to be challenged and confronted by art." The work was perhaps expected to provoke controversy and in the exhibition's opening days, The Suter Gallery defended its inclusion. But a statement on its Facebook page late Thursday said a "sharp escalation in the tone and nature of the discourse, moving well beyond the bounds of respectful debate" had prompted the flag's removal. "This should not be interpreted as a judgement on the artwork or the artist's intent," the statement said. The gallery didn't detail specific incidents of concern and a gallery spokesperson didn't respond to a request for an interview on Friday. New Zealand's Police said in a statement Friday that while officers were investigating complaints, they weren't called to any disturbances at the exhibition. Prince said when she revived the work in 2024 that threats of prosecution by law enforcement had prompted its removal from the Auckland gallery in 1995. The Nelson gallery didn't suggest in its statement that police involvement had influenced Thursday's decision. A New Zealand flag printed with the words "please walk on me" and laid on the floor of an art gallery has once again been packed away following public outcry, 30 years after protests forced the removal of the same artwork. The Suter Art Gallery in the city of Nelson said on Thursday it had removed the work by Māori artist Diane Prince due to escalating tensions and safety fears. The episode mirrored an Auckland gallery's removal of the work amid public backlash and complaints to law enforcement in 1995. This time, the flag was meant to remain on display for five months. Instead, it lasted just 19 days, reigniting long-running debates in New Zealand over artistic expression, national symbols and the country's colonial history. The piece, titled Flagging the Future, is a cloth New Zealand flag displayed on the floor with the words "please walk on me" stencilled across it. The flag features the British Union Jack and red stars on a blue background. The work is part of an exhibition, Diane Prince: Activist Artist, and was meant to provoke reflection on the Māori experience since New Zealand's colonisation by Britain in the 19th century. Prince created the piece in 1995 in response to a government policy that limited compensation to Māori tribes for historical land theft. "I have no attachment to the New Zealand flag," Prince told Radio New Zealand in 2024. "I don't call myself a New Zealander. I call myself a Māori." Prince couldn't be reached immediately for comment Friday. New Zealand's reckoning with its colonial past has gathered pace in recent decades. But there has been little appetite among successive governments to sever the country's remaining constitutional ties to Britain or change the flag to a design that doesn't feature the Union Jack. New Zealand is among countries where desecrating the national flag is considered taboo and prohibited by law. Damaging a flag in public with the intent to dishonour it is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 New Zealand dollars ($A4,641), but prosecutions are fleetingly rare. As in the United States and elsewhere, the country's flag is synonymous for some with military service. But for others, particularly some Māori, it's a reminder of land dispossession and loss of culture and identity. Protests of the artwork in the city of Nelson, population 55,000, included videos posted to social media by a local woman, Ruth Tipu, whose grandfather served in the army's Māori Battalion during World War II. In one clip, she is seen lifting the flag from the floor and draping it over another artwork, an action Tipu said she would repeat daily. A veterans' group also denounced the piece as shameful and offensive. City council member Tim Skinner said he was horrified by the work's inclusion. But others welcomed it. Nelson's deputy mayor, Rohan O'Neill-Stevens, posted on social media: "in strong defence of artistic expression and the right for us all to be challenged and confronted by art." The work was perhaps expected to provoke controversy and in the exhibition's opening days, The Suter Gallery defended its inclusion. But a statement on its Facebook page late Thursday said a "sharp escalation in the tone and nature of the discourse, moving well beyond the bounds of respectful debate" had prompted the flag's removal. "This should not be interpreted as a judgement on the artwork or the artist's intent," the statement said. The gallery didn't detail specific incidents of concern and a gallery spokesperson didn't respond to a request for an interview on Friday. New Zealand's Police said in a statement Friday that while officers were investigating complaints, they weren't called to any disturbances at the exhibition. Prince said when she revived the work in 2024 that threats of prosecution by law enforcement had prompted its removal from the Auckland gallery in 1995. The Nelson gallery didn't suggest in its statement that police involvement had influenced Thursday's decision. A New Zealand flag printed with the words "please walk on me" and laid on the floor of an art gallery has once again been packed away following public outcry, 30 years after protests forced the removal of the same artwork. The Suter Art Gallery in the city of Nelson said on Thursday it had removed the work by Māori artist Diane Prince due to escalating tensions and safety fears. The episode mirrored an Auckland gallery's removal of the work amid public backlash and complaints to law enforcement in 1995. This time, the flag was meant to remain on display for five months. Instead, it lasted just 19 days, reigniting long-running debates in New Zealand over artistic expression, national symbols and the country's colonial history. The piece, titled Flagging the Future, is a cloth New Zealand flag displayed on the floor with the words "please walk on me" stencilled across it. The flag features the British Union Jack and red stars on a blue background. The work is part of an exhibition, Diane Prince: Activist Artist, and was meant to provoke reflection on the Māori experience since New Zealand's colonisation by Britain in the 19th century. Prince created the piece in 1995 in response to a government policy that limited compensation to Māori tribes for historical land theft. "I have no attachment to the New Zealand flag," Prince told Radio New Zealand in 2024. "I don't call myself a New Zealander. I call myself a Māori." Prince couldn't be reached immediately for comment Friday. New Zealand's reckoning with its colonial past has gathered pace in recent decades. But there has been little appetite among successive governments to sever the country's remaining constitutional ties to Britain or change the flag to a design that doesn't feature the Union Jack. New Zealand is among countries where desecrating the national flag is considered taboo and prohibited by law. Damaging a flag in public with the intent to dishonour it is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 New Zealand dollars ($A4,641), but prosecutions are fleetingly rare. As in the United States and elsewhere, the country's flag is synonymous for some with military service. But for others, particularly some Māori, it's a reminder of land dispossession and loss of culture and identity. Protests of the artwork in the city of Nelson, population 55,000, included videos posted to social media by a local woman, Ruth Tipu, whose grandfather served in the army's Māori Battalion during World War II. In one clip, she is seen lifting the flag from the floor and draping it over another artwork, an action Tipu said she would repeat daily. A veterans' group also denounced the piece as shameful and offensive. City council member Tim Skinner said he was horrified by the work's inclusion. But others welcomed it. Nelson's deputy mayor, Rohan O'Neill-Stevens, posted on social media: "in strong defence of artistic expression and the right for us all to be challenged and confronted by art." The work was perhaps expected to provoke controversy and in the exhibition's opening days, The Suter Gallery defended its inclusion. But a statement on its Facebook page late Thursday said a "sharp escalation in the tone and nature of the discourse, moving well beyond the bounds of respectful debate" had prompted the flag's removal. "This should not be interpreted as a judgement on the artwork or the artist's intent," the statement said. The gallery didn't detail specific incidents of concern and a gallery spokesperson didn't respond to a request for an interview on Friday. New Zealand's Police said in a statement Friday that while officers were investigating complaints, they weren't called to any disturbances at the exhibition. Prince said when she revived the work in 2024 that threats of prosecution by law enforcement had prompted its removal from the Auckland gallery in 1995. The Nelson gallery didn't suggest in its statement that police involvement had influenced Thursday's decision.
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Thousands attend Anzac Day services across Hawke's Bay
MacLeod spoke to the crowd of around 1000 about the time he spent with Bom, saying Bom treated him like a 'mokopuna and a friend'. 'In 1988, at the Māori Battalion reunion which was held here, this car park was full of veterans, and then we lost the last one last year,' MacLeod said. MacLeod was also wearing his great-great-grandfather's medals and his late grandfather's Māori Battalion jersey - which he said was 'an incredible honour'. At the end of his speech MacLeod sang 'Buonanotte Mi Amore', an Italian song that MacLeod said was one of the many favourites of the 28th Māori Battalion, which translates to 'Goodnight My Sweetheart'. Among the crowd was Steve Kendall, who spent 40 years with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, serving across all Air Force bases in New Zealand. 'It's pretty special to be here,' he said. 'Anzac Day will just go on and on, it will get bigger and bigger. 'More and more people get involved now that the world is not at peace, that's the bottom line.' In Napier, well over 1000 people turned out for the dawn service at the Sound Shell. Royal NZ Air Force warrant officer Darryn Wells spoke to the crowd, reflecting on the sacrifice of servicemen and servicewomen in WWII. He said as news of the cruelty of Nazi concentration camps reached New Zealand at the end of the war, that 'confirmed for New Zealanders that the war that had been forced upon them in 1939 had indeed been a just struggle against evil'. He encouraged people to continue to honour those who fought in the war. 'When we leave here today, we might like to consider what we individuals and as a country can do to continue to uphold the rule of law, freedom and basic human rights. 'In doing this we can continue to honour in a powerful way the memory of those servicemen and women who came before us and sacrificed so much for our nation and our values.' Guest speaker Joseph Pedler echoed that sentiment during the service. 'The significance of Anzac Day extends far beyond reflection of the past, it is a reminder to draw strength from the lessons of those who have gone before us,' he said. 'The Anzac spirit - born of hardship and forged in battle - continues to resonate within every Australian and New Zealander. 'It is a spirit of unity, courage and a duty to our countries, it binds us together and inspires us to face challenges both big and small with the same determination and resilience. 'In our communities, the Anzac spirit is reflected in the way we care for one another - extend kindness and stand together in times of need.' Master of Ceremonies Charles Ropitini, who helped organise the Hastings dawn service, said his focus was to ensure that everybody had a good personal moment.
Scoop
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Multicultural Communities Encouraged To Honour ANZAC Day: A Call To Remember And Unite
New Zealand (MNZ) is calling on all recent immigrant communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to participate in ANZAC Day services this Friday, 25 April to honour the sacrifices of all who served. Pancha Narayanan, President of MNZ, emphasised the importance of collective remembrance, 'Every fallen soldier served with courage and conviction. Their sacrifice was not just for a nation, but for humanity. It is our shared duty to honour them for their noble commitment.' 'Our forebears stood shoulder to shoulder with ANZAC troops in Gallipoli and beyond,' stated Mr Narayanan. 'Their service is a testament to shared values, courage, sacrifice, and unity. As immigrants, we honour their legacy by participating in ANZAC Day services.' 'As we gather to honour the ANZACs, let us also acknowledge the legacy of the Māori Battalion and the spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a covenant that reminds us of our shared commitment to partnership, protection, and participation in this land we now all call home,' added Mr Narayanan. MNZ urges all communities to attend local Dawn and Civic Services. Information on services can be found at: 'Let us come together to remember the fallen and reaffirm our commitment to peace and unity in our diverse nation,' Mr Narayanan concluded.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
New waiata released to commemorate Māori Battalion
A new bilingual waiata has been released to mark the first Anzac Day without any living members of the 28th Māori Battalion, after Sir Robert 'Bom' Gillies died last year . The waiata, titled 'He Aha Te Aha', is a collaboration between singer Nikau Grace, producer Kings, mātanga reo Dr Jeremy MacLeod and Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue. Grace told Morning Report it was an honour to be approached by Dame Hinewehi Mohi to work on the song. "She ended up approaching me. I'd done a few things with her before, but one of my koro, he was in the Battalion with koro Bom. So it really hit home and it was really incredible to be asked. "My personal connection really drew me to the waiata, but also, all that it would hold and the importance that it would represent." Members of the Māori Battalion at Waitangi, in February 1940. Photo: Supplied/Professor Angela Wanhalla, University of Otago Grace said while working on 'He Aha Te Aha' with Kings and Macleod, they wanted to take a different stance and highlight the loss and sorrow of war. "Rather than having a waiata that just talks about all that we have gained because of their sacrifice, we actually really wanted to make sure people knew just what those sacrifices were. "Something that koro Bom said multiple times in interviews is 'what a waste war is', and if he could do it all over again he wouldn't ." Tā (Sir) Robert Bom Gillies (centre), at a ceremony in 2023 where 78 sets of medals were presented to descendants of the 28th Māori Battalion. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Grace explained He Aha Te Aha has different meanings, but could be summed up as 'what a waste'. Grace also said it was an honour to work with Ngāti Whakaue on the song, who brought their "beautiful harmonies," and were added after their performance at Te Matatini . "We originally only had myself singing on the waiata, and when Kings went away to produce, something just wasn't feeling right, we were missing something. "Then Matatini happened, and obviously Ngāti Whakaue's whole bracket was about koro Bom and the Māori Battalion, and it was like 'oh my gosh, they are what we are missing'." Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue, performing at Te Matatini in February, where they won the national Toa Whakaihuwaka - champions title. Photo: Supplied / Te Matatini Enterprises Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
He Aha Te Aha: Anzac waiata released to commemorate Sir Robert Bom Gillies, 28th Māori Battalion
Released as a special project under the Waiata Anthems musical series, the waiata aimed to ensure the 'significant' legacy of the 28th Māori Battalion and Tā Bom Gillies continued to be remembered and resonate for generations to come. 'It is an ōhākī [parting wish] to the future; a promise that we will not forget their sacrifices and the values they upheld.' 'Our promise that we won't forget' Nikau's grandfather fought alongside Gillies. She co-wrote the waiata and is the main singer. The 17-year-old - who lives between Rotorua and Kawerau - told the Rotorua Daily Post Waiata Anthems commissioned her and other artists to create a waiata to honour the 28th Māori Battalion 'considering this is the first year without any living members'. She said the waiata was 'our promise that we won't forget'. 'I feel like we don't talk enough about how massive their sacrifice was. 'It felt like a way of saying 'thank you' ... to all of the soldiers in the 28th battalion.' She said it was a moment for all New Zealanders to remember and reflect. 'Even if you don't know much about the Māori Battalion, I really hope that this song can help people find and feel something. That's where the remembering begins. 'With no one left from the 28th Māori Battalion, they can't speak any more so that's what we have to do.' Nikau said it was 'incredibly special' to sing the waiata due to her personal connections to the 28th Māori Battalion. 'I kind of grew up hearing the names of the soldiers and being told stories and my Nan's memories.' She was previously in a band with Gillies' son. 'Honouring our tūpuna' After two days of recording in Tāmaki Makaurau, 'there was something missing and we couldn't really pinpoint what it was', Nikau said. 'At the same time as that, Matatini was happening and ... Ngāti Whakaue, their whole set was a tribute to Koro Bom and the Māori Battalion.' Te Kapa Haka o Ngatī Whakaue won the festival with their dedicated performance. Nikau said it was determined 'that's our missing ingredient'. 'They were our baking powder ... they just made our cake rise. 'We then had one day in Rotorua to record with them ... the harmonies were unreal. 'It was so much fun ... just a lot of happy people who were all there for the reason of honouring our tūpuna [ancestors].' Nikau - who studies te reo Māori at the University of Waikato in Tauranga - said she became a 'performer' singer when she was 7 and sang at Kawerau's Christmas in the Park. 'From then, I just was so fortunate to find all these incredible people who really wanted to help mold and shape my voice. 'I'm not sure if I would be where I am right now if it weren't for my village.' The waiata has been released today on all streaming platforms, along with a short documentary and music video on Waiata Anthems platforms.
