Obituaries — Ralph Hōtere ONZ

I seek leave to move a motion without notice concerning the death of Ralph Hōtere ONZ.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none.

I move, That this Parliament mark the passing of Ralph Hōtere, ONZ. Today we mark the passing of a great New Zealander, Ralph Hōtere. The tributes flooding in from every sector of society are testimony to the significance of his life and work. Ralph Hōtere will be remembered as a man of great mana and as a highly acclaimed artist whose work spoke from the heart to all New Zealanders. He embraced the artistic traditions of Māori and European culture. He developed his own distinctive vision, and it is said of his work that he transcended cultural divides.

Ralph Hōtere was a pioneer in New Zealand contemporary art, and well known for his technical innovation. His work as a sculptor, painter, and collaborative artist has had a huge impact on the careers of many artists who have followed in his footsteps. His work often expressed profound statements about the issues of the day. He was not slow in stepping into the fray with his commentary on South Africa’s apartheid policies and nuclear testing in the Pacific, and his opposition to a proposed aluminium smelter at the head of Otago Harbour. His message was made doubly powerful by the elegant beauty of his work and its impeccable execution. Future generations will be fortunate to have his legacy of works in public and private collections throughout New Zealand.

I was very pleased Ralph Hōtere’s stature and contribution to the social and cultural life of this country could be recognised with the nation’s highest official recognition, the Order of New Zealand, in the 2012 New Year’s Honours List. On behalf of all New Zealanders, I express sincere condolences to his wife, Mary McFarlane, his daughter, his wider whānau, and the many friends he left behind. May he rest in peace.

I would like to join with the Prime Minister in paying tribute to Ralph Hōtere, who will be remembered by New Zealanders as one of our greatest artists. I would like to express Labour’s sincere condolences to his family and friends, who are mourning his passing.

Ralph Hōtere was described by those who knew him as a quiet man with very strong convictions. He did not seek the limelight. He would prefer to let his thoughtful and provocative works speak for themselves. From the very beginning of his career, more than five decades ago, to the very end, he boldly tackled the political issues that divided us as a nation. They included his controversial and memorable Black Union Jack series questioning the Springbok Tour in 1981. Ralph Hōtere also was not afraid to challenge our way of thinking and to champion causes that were dear to his heart. We remember his magnificent Aramoana series where he expressed his fierce opposition to the building of an aluminium smelter. It is for this kind of work that he has been described as a warrior artist, and deservedly so.

Ralph Hōtere’s lifelong service to this country was recognised last year when he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand. It is an honour he richly deserved. At the time, Governor-General the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae said that Ralph Hōtere’s contribution has been to “enrich the cultural and social fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand”. All New Zealanders would agree with that as we stand here today to mark the passing of a fine man and an artistic genius. His works not only have touched us all as New Zealanders but have resonated with art lovers around the world, and will continue to be appreciated by generations to come. Ralph Hōtere’s death at the age of 81 is a huge loss, but he leaves behind a legacy of artwork that will ensure he is never forgotten, and we thank him for that.

The Green Party is very sad to stand in support of this motion, and we extend to Ralph Hōtere’s family, his friends, and the people of Dunedin, who loved him, our very deepest sympathy. Rather than use my own inadequate words, I will talk about Ralph Hōtere in the words of Hone Tūwhare in this poem “Hotere”:

When you offer only three

vertical lines precisely drawn

and set into a dark pool of lacquer

it is a visual kind of starvation:

and even though my eyeballs

roll up and over to peer inside

myself, when I reach the beginning

of your eternity I say instead: hell

let’s have another feed of mussels

Like, I have to think about it, man

When you stack horizontal lines

into vertical columns which appear

to advance, recede, shimmer and wave

like exploding packs of card

I merely grunt and say: well, if it

is not a famine, it’s a feast

I have to roll another smoke, man

But when you score a superb orange

circle on a purple thought-base

I shake my head and say: hell, what

is this thing called aroha

Like, I’m euchred man. I’m eclipsed?

Kia ora.

New Zealand First wishes to express our condolences to the family and friends of Ralph Hōtere. He was an original as a painter, sculptor, and collaborative artist. Over a long career, he achieved recognition as a foremost contemporary New Zealand artist. He also played a full part in New Zealand’s social, cultural, and, indeed, political life. It is notable that Hōtere was made a member of the Order of New Zealand in 2012, the only person to be awarded the country’s highest honour that year. This reflected his outstanding contribution to New Zealand, and he made a difference by enriching our world.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time, and the people of Mitimiti in the Hokianga from whence he came.

Ā, tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Kōrero ahau mō Te Pāti Māori mō te rangatira nō Te Aupōuri i Te Rārawa, arā, a Hone Pāpita Raukura Ralph Hōtere.

[And greetings to you, Mr Speaker, I speak on behalf of the Māori Party about the respected one from Te Aupōuri at Te Rārawa, Hone Pāpita Raukura Ralph Hōtere.]

Ralph was well known internationally for his wonderful artworks, but he was also a much loved man who was respected within our community. He was born in Mitimiti, Hokianga and schooled at Hato Pētera College in Auckland. Everywhere he stepped through his life he made an impact. He moved to the other end of the motu to Dunedin but also travelled the world to refine his craft. During his time in Auckland we became friends around the whare wānanga. Our crew included Barry Crump, Hone Tūwhare, Buck Nin, and Colin McCahon in the arts world, and then with anthropologists like Pat Hōhepa, Bruce Biggs, and many, many others. Ralph was a humble man. Despite his obvious talents, he would never accept praise. He tangata whakaiti, he tangata hūmārie.

[He was a humble and amiable person.]

He also used his art to speak for itself. He was not one to interpret it for you. It was what it was, and you read into it how you liked. More than an artist, Ralph’s artworks encapsulated much of the struggle that tangata whenua were facing during his time. He was an activist. He was a thought-provoking philosopher. He was an advocate for Māori rights. He was a man’s man, and he may have been a quiet man but he certainly found a way to communicate his thoughts around the world through his artwork. He obviously had a wonderful understanding of the world around. We are proud of his achievements both here in Aotearoa and internationally. He pushed boundaries. He led the way for New Zealand art, and as a result he has earned his place in our history and the world’s history.

His art hangs here in Parliament, it adorns the front of Te Puni Kōkiri building, and at many other places around the motu. Most important, it hangs in the homes of those whom he loved, and who love him. It will remain a reminder of his great talent and his great contribution. He took our culture to the world. He took our aspirations as tangata whenua and enticed people to engage in our history and our stories. He had refined artistic skill but he was also a storyteller at heart. It was our New Zealand stories that he told so well. He will be sorely missed and we send our aroha and condolences to his whānau.

Ki tana hoa rangatira, ā, ki a Andrea hoki. Nā reira, kai te rangatira, takoto, haere. Haere atu ki a rātou e kīia nei ko te mana, ko te tini. Haere atu ki a rātou ko te paepae maumahara, ko te kāpunipunitanga ō-Wairua. Nā reira haere, okioki pai. Waiho mātou i konei taute ai, tangi ai, haere, okioki pai noa.

[To his wife and Andrea as well. And so, to you esteemed one, lie there, farewell. Journey on to they who are referred to as the powerful and the exceedingly great number. Go forth to them the recollection beam, the gathering place of the spiritual. And so, farewell, rest well. Leave us here to grieve and mourn, go. Simply rest well.]

Ralph Hōtere lived an extraordinary life and made a huge contribution to this country and, indeed, its future. I was reminded that it is the end of an era for some of our great contemporary artists. It was not long ago that we said farewell to Peter Siddell and Don Binney from Tāmaki-makau-rau, and today, from the far north, Ralph Hōtere, a humble man who spoke volumes through his paintbrush. He could speak through a paintbrush like no one else this country has seen. Ralph Hōtere was one of the great role models for Māori New Zealanders, an extraordinary thinker as well as an artist, an individual of deeply held and passionate views about his country, this country, his world, and our world. His legacy is left in his artistic genius.

The Order of New Zealand is limited to 20 living people at any one time. It is recognition of their individual greatness in their particular field of endeavour. Ralph Hōtere was a member of the Order of New Zealand. I was privileged to be at the ceremony in Dunedin last year, when a very frail old man—but a very happy old man—received the award in the surroundings of the art gallery, with many of his great paintings in attendance, if you like.

Much has been said of the style of his art, of his passion, his commitment, his dedication, his wisdom, and his skill. To me, the talent that he possessed was to be able to combine all of those very raw emotions into powerful art. His political messages were more than just slogans. They were not just colourful posters. They were works of art in their own right that showed a man of deep sensitivity, deep warmth, huge understanding, and a real sense of awareness about this country and its values. My colleague Mr Banks referred to the recent death of Don Binney. He was another artist who possessed many of those attributes—a different style, but the same feeling for his country.

When we farewell people like Ralph Hōtere and Don Binney, we farewell part of the character of our nation. Ralph Hōtere will be missed. His memory will live on not just for his art but for his spirit, for his compassion, and for his personality. I join with others in expressing my deepest condolences to his family and to his wider whānau. My gratitude goes to them for allowing that man to share his rich talent and his wonderful insight with us for so long. May he rest in peace.

Motion agreed to.