November 02, 2017
Pukehinahina story inspires art and music
Artist Tracy Tawhiao says working with singer Ria Hall has given her a chance to delve into the history they both share as Ngai Te Rangi.
Lot23 cafe and gallery in Auckland is showing Rules of Engagement, an exhibition of banners by Tawhiao which will serve as the background for a concert by Hall tomorrow night.
The banners are inspired by a letter from Henare Taratoa to Sir George Grey in 1864 outlining the manner in which the Battle of Pukehinahina-Gate Pa should be fought.
The letter also inspired Hall’s Rules of Engagement album.
Tawhiao says until she heard Hall’s songs she hadn’t really examined the story of the battle, where her iwi lured British forces into battle in a highly-engineered pa.
"I was just so amazed at this incredible story of being this small amount of Maori people in a small area being attacked by a massive amount of people with a massive amount of technology and coming out on top. I mean that’s an amazing story. It should be common knowledge," she says.
The Rules of Engagement live show is tomorrow at 8pm and the exhibition runs until November 30.
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