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

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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