‘Aunty Hana’ mural tribute to te reo Ma¯ ori stalwart
Hana Te Hemara’s achievements celebrated
Afive-storey mural of Hana Te Hemara will be painted in New Plymouth. Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa, Nga¯ti Te Whiti and Puketapu hapu¯, the wha¯nau of Hana Te Hemara, New Plymouth District Council and partners will welcome Nga¯ Tamatoa and Te Reo Ma¯ori Society to Nga¯ Motu for the I am Hana project.
The project commemorates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Ma¯ori language petition to Parliament.
I am Hana is partnered by Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa, Nga¯ti Te Whiti, Puketapu, New Plymouth District Council, Creative New Zealand, Te Taura Whiri, Te Puni Ko¯kiri, Tui Ora, Venture Taranaki, Te Ma¯ta¯wai, Toi Foundation, Spark and Nikau Construction.
From August 30 to September 15, a five-storey mural of Hana Te Hemara (Te Atiawa, Nga¯ti Raukawa, Nga¯i Tahu), a founding member of Nga¯ Tamatoa, will be painted by renowned artist Mr G on the exterior of the Puke Ariki Library in New Plymouth’s CBD.
The start of this large-scale mural opens a number of commemorative events in New Plymouth which ends with a community celebration at the mural site on King St.
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa chair Liana Poutu (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Nga¯ti Maniapoto), is honoured Nga¯
Tamatoa chose Nga¯ Motu to commemorate this important milestone.
“Hana Te Hemara epitomised what it is to be a strong and tenacious woman. Her courage, along with so many from Nga¯ Tamatoa during the 1970s, paved the way for the thriving kura kaupapa, ko¯ hanga reo and te reo Ma¯ori movement we have today,” says Liana.
“We are unashamedly proud of Aunty Hana as a leader, a mother, a fashionista and a proud Puketapu wa¯hine. E kaha tautoko ana ma¯tou I te¯nei kaupapa m¯ıharo, ka tika!”
Co-chair of New Plymouth District Council’s Te Huinga Taumata, Howie Tamati (Te Atiawa, Nga¯ti Mutunga, Nga¯i Tahu), reflected on how Nga¯ Tamatoa and their legacy has shaped the resurgence of te reo Ma¯ori in Aotearoa.
“I am proud that my moko live in a time when they hear te reo Ma¯ori as part of their everyday lives, on the news, on social media.
“It is a testament to the mahi of Nga¯ Tamatoa and Hana Te Hemara. The I am Hana project is a wonderful way to honour her and the group’s commitment to the survival of our language,” says Howie.
“It’s an honour to be part of bringing Hana’s story to life in this way for Taranaki residents and I am sure the mural on the Puke Ariki Library building is going to look stunning, be a real drawcard and an immense source of pride for her iwi, hapu¯ and wha¯nau.”