Wi Te Tau Taepa
Ko Ngongotaha tōku maunga
Ko Kahumatamomoe te moana
Ko Tonuhopu te whare tīpuna
Ko Rukuwai te wharekai
Ko Paretehoata te marae
Ko Tunohopu te tangata
Ko Ngāti Whakaue te hapū
Ko Te Arawa te iwi
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Wi Taepa tōku ingoa
Artist Statement
Wi Te Tau Pirika Taepa (born 1946, in Wellington) is a New Zealand ceramicist of Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue and Te Ati Awa descent.
He is recognised as a significant figure in contemporary New Zealand ceramics, and a leading figure in contemporary Māori clay art.
Taepa is one of the original members of Ngā Kaihanga Uku, a collective of Māori clay workers.
In 2013 an exhibition of the five founding members was held at Pataka and toured nationally.
Taepa has exhibited both nationally and internationally including the survey exhibition Wi Taepa: Retrospect (2016), organised by Pataka, and touring nationally, including as the first solo exhibition by a ceramic artist at the Auckland Art Gallery (2018).
Photographer credits: Tatiana Harper
