Back to top
Meet our Experts Online Store

Taku Huia Kaimanawa; Fiona Pardington

Free
Taku Huia Kaimanawa; Fiona Pardington


Taku Huia Kaimanawa
Fiona Pardington
(Ngāi Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Ngāti Kahungunu, Clan Cameron of Erracht)

Ko te tangi a te manu
Hui, hui, hui hui mai
Huia i runga
Huia i raro
Huia i roto
Huia i waho
Huia te muka tangata mai Hawaiki

The sacred huia bird is a powerful reminder of the concept of mana or rangitira. It’s symbolic value emphasised by its unique lineage, setting it apart from other birds in the spiritual realm of Tāne Mahuta. Originally named Manutea, the huia's body turned black to represent Te Kore, while its tail feathers were adorned with white edges to represent its journey through the heavens.
For over twenty years, Fiona Pardington has sought out and photographed taonga of the natural and cultural world held in collections worldwide. Some seventeen years after her first photographs of the now extinct huia, Pardington came to her iwi rohe, Te-Matau-a-Māui Hawke’s Bay, to photograph huia held in the Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust collection.
In what must be considered a distinct project, Pardington photographs huia in museum storehouses and private collections infusing these birds with new presence through exquisite large-scale portraits such as these. In this way, these images capture and temper a second extinction as the lifespan of these now century-old birds in taxidermy is limited also.
Pardington has talked of photography as a place of memory and mourning. These haunting photographs mourn the loss of this sacred bird, not by way of laying them to rest, but in such a way that huia are brought into the realm of the living like treasures returned to the world.

All works courtesy of the artist and Starkwhite Gallery.
Join us to hear the artist's representative, Starkwhite’s Kelly Carmichael in conversation with curator Toni Mackinnon at 11am, Saturday 20th May.

Entry is free.

« Back   

View event on Eventfinda

When

Thursday 8 June, 9:30am to 5:00pm

Friday 9 June, 9:30am to 5:00pm

Cost

Restrictions: All Ages

Free

Where

MTG Hawke's Bay, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne
1 Tennyson St, Napier, Hawke's Bay / Gisborne

« Back   

View event on Eventfinda

Share this page:
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share by Email

Contact us

Phone +64 6 8341911
Freephone 0800 847488
Email info@napiernz.com
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram

Get directions

Visit us

100 Marine Parade, Napier South, Napier 4110
Open every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Napier isite Visitor
Information Centre

View on Google Maps

Map provided by ArcGIS Online Powered by Esri - logo

Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up to date, shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith. Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant government agencies. cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content. Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced information or material is copyright to the respective provider.

© - https://www.napiernz.com/ / +64 0800 847 488 / info@napiernz.com