The rediscovery of a Charles Frederick Goldie portrait unseen by the public for more than a century is prompting renewed discussion about the relationship between art, whakapapa and the stewardship of Māori cultural heritage.
The painting, “Lost in Thought – Ngāheke, An Arawa Chieftain,” disappeared from public view after being exhibited in Christchurch in 1917 before resurfacing in Australia in 2020. It is now expected to attract significant attention from collectors following its return to the market, but for Tūhourangi descendants, its importance extends well beyond its auction value.
Among those reflecting on the portrait is Kirikowhai Mikaere, a respected Te Arawa leader who has long advocated for the protection, interpretation and return of Tūhourangi taonga.
She says the rediscovery of the portrait represents far more than the reappearance of a valuable artwork.
For descendants, it is the return of an image carrying the presence of a tūpuna whose leadership, knowledge and responsibilities continue to shape the identity of Tūhourangi today.
Ngāheke was a prominent Tūhourangi rangatira and tohunga, recognised not only for his leadership but also for his cultural and spiritual authority within Te Arawa.
His life was lived during one of the most significant periods in the history of the iwi, following the devastating 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera that destroyed Te Wairoa and forever changed the landscape and communities of the Rotorua region.
Many descendants continue to regard Ngāheke as an important link between pre-eruption Tūhourangi life and the generations that rebuilt the iwi following one of Aotearoa’s greatest natural disasters.
His portrait therefore serves as a reminder not only of an individual but of an entire chapter of Māori history.
While Goldie’s works remain among New Zealand’s most valuable paintings, Mikaere believes conversations about these portraits should begin with the people depicted rather than the artist who painted them.
She says Goldie’s technical brilliance is widely acknowledged, but his paintings also represent living whakapapa for whānau, hapū and iwi.
Every portrait carries cultural, historical and spiritual significance that cannot be measured solely in financial terms.
The commercial success of Goldie’s work has become increasingly evident in recent years, with several paintings selling for more than one million dollars and record-breaking prices continuing to attract international interest.
Yet for many Māori, the greatest value lies in the opportunity to reconnect with ancestors whose likenesses have been preserved through portraiture.
The rediscovery of Ngāheke’s portrait also raises broader questions about stewardship.
Across Aotearoa, iwi have become increasingly active in reclaiming significant cultural treasures held in museums, private collections and institutions both here and overseas.
For Tūhourangi, those conversations extend beyond individual artworks to include the ongoing protection and interpretation of taonga connected to the iwi’s history.
Recent efforts surrounding the return and care of Hinemihi-related taonga have demonstrated the growing importance Māori place on ensuring ancestral treasures remain connected to the communities from which they originated.
Mikaere believes the future of the Ngāheke portrait should involve meaningful conversations between its owners, descendants and cultural institutions about how the work can remain accessible while respecting its significance.
That may include opportunities for public exhibition, collaboration with iwi and educational initiatives that ensure future generations understand not only Goldie’s artistry but also the life and legacy of the man portrayed.
She says the painting should encourage New Zealanders to look beyond the canvas.
Rather than seeing only a celebrated work of art, it offers an opportunity to recognise the enduring presence of a Tūhourangi leader whose story continues to resonate more than a century after Goldie first captured his likeness.
As interest grows around the portrait’s sale, the rediscovery of Ngāheke serves as a reminder that some of New Zealand’s most valuable treasures are measured not simply by auction results, but by the histories, identities and whakapapa they preserve.
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