Obituaries — Ralph Hotere ONZ 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Obituaries — Ralph Hotere ONZ 
[Sitting date: 26 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8146. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Obituaries 
Ralph Hotere ONZ 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I seek leave to move a motion without notice concerning the death of Ralph Hotere ONZ. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none. 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I move  
That this Parliament mark the passing of Ralph Hotere ONZ 
. Today we mark the passing of a great New Zealander Ralph Hotere. The tributes flooding in from every sector of society are testimony to the significance of his life and work. Ralph Hotere will be remembered as a man of great mana and as a highly acclaimed artist whose work spoke from the heart to all New Zealanders. He embraced the artistic traditions of Maori and European culture. He developed his own distinctive vision and it is said of his work that he transcended cultural divides. 
Ralph Hotere was a pioneer in New Zealand contemporary art and well known for his technical innovation. His work as a sculptor painter and collaborative artist has had a huge impact on the careers of many artists who have followed in his footsteps. His work often expressed profound statements about the issues of the day. He was not slow in stepping into the fray with his commentary on South Africa’s apartheid policies and nuclear testing in the Pacific and his opposition to a proposed aluminium smelter at the head of Otago Harbour. His message was made doubly powerful by the elegant beauty of his work and its impeccable execution. Future generations will be fortunate to have his legacy of works in public and private collections throughout New Zealand. 
I was very pleased Ralph Hotere’s stature and contribution to the social and cultural life of this country could be recognised with the nation’s highest official recognition the Order of New Zealand in the 2012 New Year’s Honours List. On behalf of all New Zealanders I express sincere condolences to his wife Mary McFarlane his daughter his wider whanau and the many friends he left behind. May he rest in peace. 
DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 I would like to join with the Prime Minister in paying tribute to Ralph Hotere who will be remembered by New Zealanders as one of our greatest artists. I would like to express Labour’s sincere condolences to his family and friends who are mourning his passing. 
Ralph Hotere was described by those who knew him as a quiet man with very strong convictions. He did not seek the limelight. He would prefer to let his thoughtful and provocative works speak for themselves. From the very beginning of his career more than five decades ago to the very end he boldly tackled the political issues that divided us as a nation. They included his controversial and memorable  
Black Union Jack 
 series questioning the Springbok Tour in 1981. Ralph Hotere also was not afraid to challenge our way of thinking and to champion causes that were dear to his heart. We remember his magnificent  
Aramoana 
 series where he expressed his fierce opposition to the building of an aluminium smelter. It is for this kind of work that he has been described as a warrior artist and deservedly so. 
Ralph Hotere’s lifelong service to this country was recognised last year when he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand. It is an honour he richly deserved. At the time Governor-General the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae said that Ralph Hotere’s contribution has been to “enrich the cultural and social fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand”. All New Zealanders would agree with that as we stand here today to mark the passing of a fine man and an artistic genius. His works not only have touched us all as New Zealanders but have resonated with art lovers around the world and will continue to be appreciated by generations to come. Ralph Hotere’s death at the age of 81 is a huge loss but he leaves behind a legacy of artwork that will ensure he is never forgotten and we thank him for that. 
METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 The Green Party is very sad to stand in support of this motion and we extend to Ralph Hotere’s family his friends and the people of Dunedin who loved him our very deepest sympathy. Rather than use my own inadequate words I will talk about Ralph Hotere in the words of Hone Tuwhare in this poem “Hotere”: 
When you offer only three 
vertical lines precisely drawn 
and set into a dark pool of lacquer 
it is a visual kind of starvation: 
and even though my eyeballs 
roll up and over to peer inside 
myself when I reach the beginning  
of your eternity I say instead: hell 
let’s have another feed of mussels 
Like I have to think about it man 
When you stack horizontal lines  
into vertical columns which appear 
to advance recede shimmer and wave 
like exploding packs of card 
I merely grunt and say: well if it 
is not a famine it’s a feast 
I have to roll another smoke man 
But when you score a superb orange 
circle on a purple thought-base 
I shake my head and say: hell what 
is this thing called  
aroha 
Like I’m euchred man. I’m eclipsed? 
Kia ora. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First wishes to express our condolences to the family and friends of Ralph Hotere. He was an original as a painter sculptor and collaborative artist. Over a long career he achieved recognition as a foremost contemporary New Zealand artist. He also played a full part in New Zealand’s social cultural and indeed political life. It is notable that Hotere was made a member of the Order of New Zealand in 2012 the only person to be awarded the country’s highest honour that year. This reflected his outstanding contribution to New Zealand and he made a difference by enriching our world. 
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time and the people of Mitimiti in the Hokianga from whence he came. 
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
: 
 A tena koe Mr Speaker. Korero ahau mo Te Pati Maori mo te rangatira no Te Aupouri i Te Rarawa ara a Hone Papita Raukura Ralph Hotere. 
[ 
And greetings to you Mr Speaker I speak on behalf of the Maori Party about the respected one from Te Aupouri at Te Rarawa Hone Papita Raukura Ralph Hotere. 
] 
Ralph was well known internationally for his wonderful artworks but he was also a much loved man who was respected within our community. He was born in Mitimiti Hokianga and schooled at Hato Petera College in Auckland. Everywhere he stepped through his life he made an impact. He moved to the other end of the motu to Dunedin but also travelled the world to refine his craft. During his time in Auckland we became friends around the whare wananga. Our crew included Barry Crump Hone Tuwhare Buck Nin and Colin McCahon in the arts world and then with anthropologists like Pat Hohepa Bruce Biggs and many many others. Ralph was a humble man. Despite his obvious talents he would never accept praise. He tangata whakaiti he tangata humarie. 
[ 
He was a humble and amiable person. 
] 
He also used his art to speak for itself. He was not one to interpret it for you. It was what it was and you read into it how you liked. More than an artist Ralph’s artworks encapsulated much of the struggle that tangata whenua were facing during his time. He was an activist. He was a thought-provoking philosopher. He was an advocate for Maori rights. He was a man’s man and he may have been a quiet man but he certainly found a way to communicate his thoughts around the world through his artwork. He obviously had a wonderful understanding of the world around. We are proud of his achievements both here in Aotearoa and internationally. He pushed boundaries. He led the way for New Zealand art and as a result he has earned his place in our history and the world’s history. 
His art hangs here in Parliament it adorns the front of Te Puni Kokiri building and at many other places around the motu. Most important it hangs in the homes of those whom he loved and who love him. It will remain a reminder of his great talent and his great contribution. He took our culture to the world. He took our aspirations as tangata whenua and enticed people to engage in our history and our stories. He had refined artistic skill but he was also a storyteller at heart. It was our New Zealand stories that he told so well. He will be sorely missed and we send our aroha and condolences to his whanau. 
Ki tana hoa rangatira a ki a Andrea hoki. Na reira kai te rangatira takoto haere. Haere atu ki a ratou e kiia nei ko te mana ko te tini. Haere atu ki a ratou ko te paepae maumahara ko te kapunipunitanga o-Wairua. Na reira haere okioki pai. Waiho matou i konei taute ai tangi ai haere okioki pai noa. 
[ 
To his wife and Andrea as well. And so to you esteemed one lie there farewell. Journey on to they who are referred to as the powerful and the exceedingly great number. Go forth to them the recollection beam the gathering place of the spiritual. And so farewell rest well.  
Leave us here to grieve and mourn go. Simply rest well. 
] 
Hon JOHN BANKS (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 Ralph Hotere lived an extraordinary life and made a huge contribution to this country and indeed its future. I was reminded that it is the end of an era for some of our great contemporary artists. It was not long ago that we said farewell to Peter Siddell and Don Binney from Tamaki-makau-rau and today from the far north Ralph Hotere a humble man who spoke volumes through his paintbrush. He could speak through a paintbrush like no one else this country has seen. Ralph Hotere was one of the great role models for Maori New Zealanders an extraordinary thinker as well as an artist an individual of deeply held and passionate views about his country this country his world and our world. His legacy is left in his artistic genius. 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 The Order of New Zealand is limited to 20 living people at any one time. It is recognition of their individual greatness in their particular field of endeavour. Ralph Hotere was a member of the Order of New Zealand. I was privileged to be at the ceremony in Dunedin last year when a very frail old man—but a very happy old man—received the award in the surroundings of the art gallery with many of his great paintings in attendance if you like. 
Much has been said of the style of his art of his passion his commitment his dedication his wisdom and his skill. To me the talent that he possessed was to be able to combine all of those very raw emotions into powerful art. His political messages were more than just slogans. They were not just colourful posters. They were works of art in their own right that showed a man of deep sensitivity deep warmth huge understanding and a real sense of awareness about this country and its values. My colleague Mr Banks referred to the recent death of Don Binney. He was another artist who possessed many of those attributes—a different style but the same feeling for his country. 
When we farewell people like Ralph Hotere and Don Binney we farewell part of the character of our nation. Ralph Hotere will be missed. His memory will live on not just for his art but for his spirit for his compassion and for his personality. I join with others in expressing my deepest condolences to his family and to his wider whanau. My gratitude goes to them for allowing that man to share his rich talent and his wonderful insight with us for so long. May he rest in peace. 
Motion agreed to.