A six-panelled oil painting on compacted board about the gods of the Maori creation stories.

“This oil painting was created while the artist, Robyn Kahukiwa had a residency (studio space) at City Gallery Wellington in 1988. It was then included in a touring group exhibition of contemporary Māori art that went to various cities around the USA in the early 1990s. The exhibition was called Te Waka Toi. On its return to Aotearoa the exhibition was shown at City Gallery Wellington.

“The painting depicts Gods across the top six panels:

• Tane – God of trees and all the forests

• Haumia-tiketike – God of uncultivated foods

• Tangaroa – God of the seas

• Tāwhirimātea – God of the winds

• Rongomatane – God of peace

• Tūmatauenga – God of war

“The three bottom panels depict figures that represent the tangata whenua, the people who carpet the earth.

“This artwork was purchased in 1994 and was previously on display for 26 years in the foyer of the former Wellington City Council building on Wakefield Street."

Source: Art at Waitohi: ‘He Tatai Whetu Ki Te Rangi Mau Tonu Mau Tonu He Tatai Tangata Ki Te Whenua Ngaro Noa Ngaro Noa’ (Gods Never Die – Only People Do) (1998), Wellington City Council webpage (also published as a pamphlet: copy in PAHANZ archive)

See also:

• Maribeth Coleman, ‘He Tatai Whetu Ki Te Rangi Mau Tonu Mau Tonu He Tatai Tangata Ki Te Whenua Ngaro Noa Ngaro Noa, Robyn Kahukiwa’ (Wellington City Libraries Recollect)

• He Tatai Whetu Ki te Rangi Mau Tonu Mau Tonu (Wellington City Council Me Heke ki Pōneke, City Art Collection listing)