To celebrate Matariki, Britomart commissioned a series of artworks by Hāmiora Bailey and Robyn Pryor representing each Matariki star. Read on to find out more about the works here, along with their accompanying affirmations in Te Reo Māori and English.
Kua Tīrama is an artwork by Robyn Pryor (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe) and Hāmiora Bailey (Ngāti Huarere, Ngāti Porou Ki Harataunga) that ranges across Britomart’s Pavilion Panels on Galway Street and Te Ara Tahuhu, and through the Atrium on Takutai, featuring representations of each star in the Matariki cluster.
Meaning "it's lit!," Kua Tīrama as a work demonstrates the learning and teaching between Whaea (Aunty) and Iramutu (Nephew) as they exchange skills. Through making this work, Hāmiora taught Whaea Robyn simple digital design techniques in Adobe Illustrator, and Whaea Robyn taught Hāmiora unique ways to honour the Atua of Matariki in Te Reo Māori. The work is comprised of nine panels, one for each star of Matariki, and corresponding affirmations for those who look towards them.
The work received its name from a kōrero given by Haoro Hond (Taranaki, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Te Āti Awa, Ngai Tāmanuhiri):
Kua tīrama ngā wherokiroki o Matariki, ka mātike tū ki te rangi.
(The light of Matariki has been dispersed in the sky, it shines bright [for you])
If you'd like to find out more about artists Robyn Pryor and Hāmiora Bailey you can read their interview here.
Hiwa-I-Te-Rangi
KO TE TUMANAKO
HE MANAKONUI
O NGĀ TĪPUNA
O NGĀ ARIKI
KA MUA, KA MURI
KA MUA, KA MURI
KA TIKA, KA PONO
KA ĀIO E
HEKE MAI
HEKE MAI
HEKE MAI
I AHAU
We wish for the future
As told by our ancestors
By their ancestors
It is right and just
To know that the future is informed by the past
In this knowing, there is peace
That whakapapa is an investiture
I am worthy to receive
Pōhutakawa
PUREREHUA
WHAKATIPUA
MAI I TE HĒKI,
KA RU, KA RE,
KA PUTA HE WHA WHE
KA PIKI, KA PIKI
RUNGA RAWA E
AHAKOA KA PAKEKE
ATAAHUA E
KAPAKAPA KAPAKAPA
KI TE RAKAU E
RERE ATU KI TE RAU
HEI PAOPAOTIA
HEI TUAPAPA
HEI ORANGA E
HI! HI! HI HA!
From an egg, shaking, wriggling into being,
Becoming a caterpillar
Fly high oh butterfly, fly high
Growing more beautiful with age
Flutter to the tree
Fly to to branch
To lay your egg
The next generation
The continuation of life.
Affirm it!
Tupu-Ā-Nuku
KOIRĀ TE TUPUA
KA WHAKAŪ TE WHENUA
HŌ, KŌ
KIA WHAKATŌ
HŌ, KŌ
KIA WHAKATŌ
MURI, MURI RĀ ANŌ
TIAKINA TE WHENUA
TE MAARA KAI, TE TIPUA
MUA, MUA RĀ ANO
WHAKATŌ NGĀ KĀKANO
KIA PUAWAI TE AO KATOA
TOI TŪ TE WHENUA!
We can only grow
If we provide for the whenua
If we till and plough
To plant the send
If we till and plough
To plant the seed
The future is guaranteed
From the land
Cultivating our nourishment,
Allowing us to grow
Like our ancestors before us
Ensuring the next generation
Continues to blossom so we all may thrive
Let the permanence of land remain!
Tupu-Ā-Rangi
KUA WHAKAWHĀNAU AU I AHAU
KI TAKU TAHA, TAHA TOKERAU
KI TE TAHA RĀWHITI, KI TE URU E
TAKU TAHA TOA WĀHINE E
AU, AU, AU E, HĀ!
KUA WHAKATIPUA AU I AHAU
MĀ TE KAHUKURA HE MANU E
ĀNEI TE KĀHŪ O TE RANGI E
KO TE HOKIOI E NGUNGURU E
AU, AU, AU E, HĀ!
Here I am, who I was always destined to be
From all directions of the wind
My power is that inherited from our women
Affirmed in being
I have grown into who I was destined to be
Taking flight like the bird that is adorned with the colours of the rainbow
Here is an ancestress
Like the haste eagle, shaking the ground before you
I am affirmed in being
Ururangi
PIRI TATA MAI
TE ĀTA HAERE E
PIRI TATA MAI
TE ĀTA HAERE E
KA NEKENEKE NGĀ KĀPUA
KIA PIRI KIA TATA MAI
KO TE HAUTUTU ME TE MARINO
KO TE PĀ HAU KO TE AWHIOWHIO
WHAKAPĀ MAI KI TE TINANA
KA MOHIO MAI
KO WAI AHAU
TE HĀ U O TE ARIKI
TE HĀ U O TE ARIKI
TE HĀ U O TE ARIKI E
KŌKIRI
Feel the gentle breeze
As it brings us closer
Into being
Gently, the clouds drift
Closer into being
Flamboyant yet peaceful
Gentle seldom turbulent
Often, I am touched by the breeze
As a gentle reminder of who I am
The sacred breath of life
The sacred breath of life
As bestowed by my ancestors
Embrace it!
Wai-Puna-Ā-Rangi
ĀNEI HE MAURI
TE MAURI TŪOHU
HE ROIMATA E
HE WAI ARIKI
HE PUNA ARIKI
HE RANGI ARIKI E
NGA TANGI PŌURI
NGĀ KARU MOKEMOKE
TAKOTO TE PUEHU
WHAKAWHĀRIKIHIA
KO WAI KOE E TE TAU
KEI WHEA KOE E TE TAU
TUKUNA TE MAMAE
KIA MAIMAI TE AROHA
MARINGIHIA TE UA
TOKU UMA E
Here, my vital essence
Crestfallen, I cry
My sacred waters
Through a wellspring of love
From the heavens
I lament
My eyes longing
Tears dampening the dust
Weaving you into me
Who am I to remember you - my love,
Where have you gone?
I will let go of the pain
To make a shelter built only for you
From here, I shall let the rain fall
As I hold you forever in my heart
Waitā
WHĀWHĀ TE HĪRANGI
MAI I TE TANGO ONEPŪ
WHAKARONGO KI TE PĀOHO
O TE URU KI RO’ WAI
HE TOTE, HE TOTE, HE TOTE E
TITIRO KI TE MURATANGA O TE WAI RĀWHITI E
WAITĀ KO TE MOANA HONGIHONGIHIA
RUKURUKU, RUKURUKU, RUKUHIA
KA PIKI, KA PIKI, KA PIKI E
TIHEI MAURI ORA!
Feel the heat rising from the black sand
As you listen to the sound of the western waters
Nourished through the minerals of the ocean
Look at the shimmering easter waters,
And honour Waitā through the sacred breath of life
While you may dive deeper and descend through the current of time
You will always rise and ascend to greatness
This is the essence of life
Waitī
KA RERE TONU
TE MĀRAMATANGA
O TE WAI MA TE AWA
KAU ANA I TE PUNA AROHA
O NGĀ TĪPUNA
O NGĀ ATUA
IRIIRI TE ĀIO
IRIIRI TE ĀIO
IRIIRI TE ĀIO E
KA TAU AI TE MAURI
O WAITī NEI
KŌKIRI
Feel the perpetual flow
And enlightenment of our rivers
Bask in the foundation of love
From the ancestors
And the primordial essence of the world
Annointed in peace
Annointed in peace
Annointed in peace
Be centred through the vitality
of Waitī
Embrace it!
Matariki
TĒNEI TE WHAKAATURANGA KO “KUA TIRAMA” HE TOI WHAKAMIHA TĒNEI KI A KOE E TAKU MĀREIKURA KO WHAEA ROBYN. NŌKU TE HAUMARUTANGA O TŌ KOROWAI AROHA I NGĀ TAU KUA PAHURE AKE, KUA WHAKAMARUMARUTIA AHAU E TE AWHIOWHIO.
TĒNEI TE MIHI UWHA ATU AHAU KI A KOE E TAKU PIKI KŌTUKU. TE TAEA TE HUATAU, TE WHAKAKĀKAHU TIKA KI NGĀ KUPU MŌ NGĀ MAHI I MAHI IA KOE I ROTO I NGĀ TAU.
NĀU AHAU I POIPOI, I WHĀNGAI HOKI I ROTO I NGA WĀ O TE TAONE NUI O TĀMAKI MAKAURAU, ME KORE AKE KOE KA KORE RAWA OKU WHAKAARO, AKU KUPU E PUTA KI TE AO HURIHURI. KEI TAKU RAUKURA, TĒNĀ HOKI KI A KOE MAI I TŌ IRAMUTU, TŌ TAUIRA, TŌ KURU POUNAMU E.
This work, Kua Tīrama is a dedication to my Whaea Robyn. I am honoured to have been sheltered by her korowai of love over the past few years, it has protected me often from the storms.
I am honouring the sacred femininity within her. As through it I have been bestowed new language and understanding through our work together through the years.
I have been nurtured and adopted, protected in my essence as a mokopuna while navigating the city through Whaea Robyn, her knowledge has equipped me with better understanding on how to apply our Reo Māori in an ever changing world.
You my Whaea are a gift, through knowing you I feel prestige, thank you again and always – your nephew, your student.
