“This triptych comprises a large oil on canvas framed with rimu moulding exploring themes arising from the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s founding document.

“The text on the painting includes Sir Hugh Kawharu’s translation of the Māori version of the Treaty, written as Article One on the first panel, Article Two on the centre panel, and Article Three on the third. The Treaty partners, land forms, sea, river/lake and sky in varying shapes and colours feature in the work. The long white cloud which links the triptych is a reference to Aotearoa.”

Source: Wellington High Court, Artworks Catalogue (6-page typed and printed document produced by the High Court)

Note: although this work was commissioned in 1992, Kahukiwa’s signature on the painting dates it 1993.

This work is one of a set of artworks commissioned for the Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara High Court in 1992 by an artworks panel consisting of members of the judiciary, the Department of Justice, the Māori community and the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council.

As the Jury Room is often in use, the work is only viewable by prior appointment.