ORO NGĀTAHI

Oro Ngātahi reflects a village-like nurturing and motion for collectivised healing. The three Pūtātara displayed are children that have been given form and life through the hands and imaginations of whānau, each bringing their own wisdom and perspectives, allowing an unfolding of themselves into being. Ko Te Pū o Moenga Wheke te mātāmua, ko Makoare muru rere iho, ko Marama Iti te pōtiki. Each member found in Oro Ngātahi carries their own stories and have called in different materials from the world around them to form their becoming.

Uncle Johnny Cash helped with the mouthpiece designs and construction, Mother Janine Tito helped with refinement of designs, bindings and adornments, and Aunty Donna Tito helped with the transition of Puoro (ko Marama Iti) towards necklace form. These Taonga sing healing songs that will forever trace back to the eyes, hands and minds that helped shape them, both directly and indirectly, and ultimately back to the Taiao, the source of all our making here. The processes of finding and making oro inevitably brings us closer to Taiao through sound and material.

RINGATOI/ARTIST: Rāhara Tito-Taylor
HAPŪ: Parawhau, Uriroroi, Ngāti Mahuta
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Sea shells, mixed binding (wax string, traditional Niuean twine), Muka, Kotare wing, Kukupa feathers, Mako tooth, Totara/Pohutukawa wood, video