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Text originally created for Tūrangawaewae: Art and New Zealand exhibition at Te Papa, March 2018.
A great leader and master carver, painted by another renowned artist.
Anaha Te Rāhui was a master carver from Ngāti Tarāwhai, the Rotorua iwi [tribe] instrumental in the survival of whakairo [carving]. During the New Zealand Wars, he led his people alongside the Te Arawa tribe, on the side of the government. He eventually became Ngāti Tarāwhai’s paramount leader.
Te Rāhui combined a profound knowledge of tribal history with an aptitude for navigating Pākehā systems. He is portrayed in many photographs and paintings, including three by Charles F Goldie.
He rangatira, he tohunga whakairo, he mea peita e tētahi atu ringatoi rongonui.
He tohunga whakairo a Anaha Te Rāhui nō Ngāti Tarāwhai, he iwi nō Rotorua i ū ki ngā mahi whakairo. I ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa, i ārahi ia i tana iwi me te iwi o Te Arawa, kia whawhai tahi me te kāwanatanga. I noho ia hei tino ariki mō te iwi o Ngāti Tarāwhai.
E taunga ana a Te Rāhui ki ngā ao e rua, he mōhio nōna ki ngā kōrero hītori o tana iwi me tana mōhio ki te whakamahi i ngā ture Pākehā. Kei roto ia i ngā whakaahua me ngā kōwaiwai maha, pēnei i tēnei nā Charles F Goldie.
Beyond the frame of this work, two artists meet: the painter Charles Goldie and the carver Ānaha Te Rāhui.
Goldie painted portraits of Māori primarily for the European art market, but he also took part in an artistic exchange across cultures. He painted Te Rāhui three times and, in return, Ānaha gifted him a carved paddle and a hei tiki (pendant in human form).