| Matakana Pictures Exhibitions Artists |
Photo: Peter Hannken
My interest in photography began in my early teens using a brownie camera just to record. However my advancement in this medium was awoken when I obtained books and magazines on photography of some of Americas evocative documentary photographers like Lewis Hine, Walker Evans, Ben Shann, Dorothy Lange, W Eugene Smith, Robert Frank and many others.
Even though documentary photography was the direction I desired to work in, I needed however, skills and experience so it became frustrating to attain such an occupation as photographic courses did not exist living in a small country town.
Therefore I entered the building industry in 1962 by becoming an apprentice carpenter attaining skills both in residential and commercial construction. This occupation has supported and enabled me a photographic choice of subject.
One of the projects I had in progress was photographing children as I found them not inhibited like adults and were acting out their fantasies – only a few of these images were ever exhibited: once in a group show at Real Pictures (Christmas Show) and in the Auckland Society of Arts Gallery (Eight by Eight)
However a change of direction to landscape photography occurred after a friend introduced me by means of many weekend tramping trips to the Tongariro National Park. These experiences had a profound effect on me, so what pursued from 1981 – 1987 were countless solo trips to the Tongariro National Park – mainly the eastern side of Ruapehu.
I realised, as I analysed each image, portraying the very substance of my experience required season by season visits. This developed a more acute awareness of the geographical features of the region.
So at present I am preparing for another phase of recording this unique environment; to capture various geographical transformations of the areas previously photographed considering a twenty year lapse has ensued. Also within this time in 1987 the Tongariro National Park became a World Heritage Park. Therefore I have included the profound words of the gift the paramount chief of the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Te Huehue Tukino presented to all New Zealanders from that time and all future generations. Therefore these images are just a fragment of such a vast area that appears harsh yet so fragile reflecting the care needed to preserve what has been given to us, just as Chief Te Huehue Tukino’s words of care, trust, heritage, treasures still apply now and into the future.
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Solstice: 4.June - 6.August 2005
THE GIFT
I TE 23 0 HEPETEMA, I TE TAU 1887, KA TUKUA E TE HEUHEU TUKINO E TE
ARIKI 0 NGATI TUWHARETOA, NGA NAUNGA TAPU KI NGA IWI KATOA 0 AOTEAROA ME TE AO ANO HOKI KIA MANAKITIA HEI TOHU MO NGA WHAKATUPURANGA KEI TE HEKE MAI
“ANEI AKU TAONGA. RAHUITIA”
KO NGA KAPU ENEI A TE HEUHEU MO TE HUNGA KEI TAHURI KI TE TAKAKINO I ONA MAUNGA TIKETIKE.
ANEI TA MATOU OTENEI WHAKATIPURANGA KI A KOUTOU KI NGA URI WHAKAHEKE. ARA TE AHI MANAWA 0 NGA MAUNGA ME NGA WHENUA HOKI KUA TIAKINA NEI E MATOU HEI TAONGA WHAKAMIHARO, MA KOUTOU. TIAKINA, MANAKITIA, KO NGA TAONGA TUKU IHO ENEI MO KOUTOU ME A KOUTOU TAMARIKI.
“E AUAHI TONU NEI A TONGARIRO E MUMURA TONU NEI TONA AHI ME TE WHENUA, TOITU, TOITU.¬
ON 23 SEPTEMBER 1887, TE HEUHEU TUKINO, PARAMOUNT CHIEF OF NGATI TUWHARETOA, GIFTED THESE SACRED MOUNTAIN PEAKS TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND TO BE HELD IN TRUST AS A NATIONAL PARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
“BEHOLD, MY TREASURES,” SAID TE HEUHEU TO THOSE WHO WOULD HARM HIS HERITAGE.
AND WE OF THIS GENERATION SAY TO THOSE OF THE FUTURE: “BEHOLD, BEHOLD ARE THE FIRES OF THESE MOUNTAINS AND THE LANDS WE HAVE HELD IN TRUST FOR YOU.
TAKE THEM IN YOUR CARE AND CHERISH THEM: THEY ARE YOUR HERITAGE AND THE HERITAGE OF YOUR CHILDREN.” TONGARIRO STILL SMOKES ...
THE ANCESTRAL FIRES STILL BURN
AND THE LAND LIVES ON FOR ALL
DEDICATED 23RD SEPTEMBER 1987
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