Why I created a 5-storey mural of Hana Te Hemara, pioneer of Te Wiki o te reo Māori

This story is part of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Check out the rest of the stories here. 

“As the proverb by Kiingi Taawhiao goes,”We must provide our children and their children a better platform than the one we inherited”

Mr G and I am Hana project are honouring the 50th Anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and pay tribute to Hana Te Hemara with a five-storey mural of the esteemed wahine Māori leader. Hana alongside other members of Ngā Tamatoa presented a petition of over 30,000 signatures to parliament to prioritise the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori.

Kereama Hoete aka “Mr G” of Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui & Ngāti Awa decent is renowned for his mural work across Aotearoa. This will be his biggest mural to date which is located behind the Puke Ariki Library in New Plymouth.

Re:’s reo Māori series Ohinga spoke to Mr G about the significance of this mural.

“One of the biggest things about this project is that it’s encouraging us all to speak te reo Māori”

“The style that this mural is going to be done in is: it’s bold, it’s loud, it’s bright and unapologetic”

“I have no doubt that when this thing is finished it’ll be the icon in the country” 

We also hear from Hana Te Hemara’s mokopuna, Paimarire Maipi and how she feels about the mural of her late kuia.

“I’m excited (to see the mural) because it will be the first time she (Hana) and her hard work will be acknowledged and seen by the wider community”

She also explains Hana Te Hemara’s significance to Te Ao Māori;

“As the proverb by Kiingi Taawhiao goes,”We must provide our children and their children a better platform than the one we inherited.” That was the vision of my ancestors in the Ngā Tamatoa activist group, so that me and my generation can thrive and have a better future”

If you would like to learn more about Hana Te Hemara and her profound work, visit the I AM HANA project website.

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Nau mai ki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2022