Knighthood honour for all of Ma¯oridom

Professor Derek Arana Te Ahi Lardelli

Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Ma¯ori art

When Derek Lardelli kneels before the ceremonial sword of GovernorGeneral Dame Patsy Reddy, he will carry with him the achievements of many more than one.

The composer of the All Blacks’ haka KapaOPangois one of five new knights and dames announced in today’s Queen’s Birthday honours.

Lardelli has been recognised for his services to Ma¯ori arts. The 59-year-old professor is one of the country’s finest ta¯ moko designers, a carver, composer, visual artist, graphic designer, educationalist and kapa haka champion.

He is a powerful voice for Ma¯ori arts here and overseas and his work can be found in national and international institutions, public buildings and private collections.

His latest honour was unexpected, Lardelli said.

But as with all recognition he received, the honour will not be his alone.

“I feel quite humbled by this – well, my whole family, really, because they’re part and parcel with what I do. Without them there is no Derek Lardelli art.

“Wha¯nau. And that’s wha¯nau wha¯nui, the extended family, which is the whole of the Taira¯whiti region, and in fact Ma¯oridom, because the award recognises first and foremost Ma¯ori and Ma¯ori art.”

Ma¯ori art was no longer solely “an area of study”, he said.

“It’s a lifelong expression of who you are. We’re Ma¯ori artists and it recognises that . . . so that’s the purpose, to accept it on behalf of all Ma¯ori artists.

Kapa O Pango might be the most well-known of the many haka he had written, but today’s honour was a reflection of all his work – not just one performed by the men in black.