January 25, 2024
Selwyn Muru brought art to activism
Activist turned artist Tame Iti says the death of Selwyn Muru is a huge loss.
The Te Aupouri and Ngāti Kurī artist and broadcaster died yesterday at the age of 86.
Iti says his first contact with Muru was when he was interviewed by him at Waitangi in 1972 about Ngā Tamatoa protests.
The following year he took part in the first hui of Ngā Puna Waihanga, the Māori Artists and Writers Association, at Te Kaha.
“And he played a huge role there, like Don Selwyn, Hone Tuwhare, Ralph Hotere and all of those interesting characters during that period so really sad to lose him now. He contributed amazing things in his time as an artist and a story teller, as a poet and many other things he was great at,” Iti says.
Tame Iti says he remembers Selwyn Muru and the late Reverend Hone Kaa attending his trial after the Tuhoe raids.
Selwyn Murupaenga is at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland before being taken to Kaitaia tomorrow.