A striking oil portrait of a Māori Elder has made history, fetching a record-breaking price at an Aotearoa auction, making it the most valuable artwork in the country's history.
The New Zealand Herald reported the artwork, revered for its cultural significance and extraordinary detail, sold for NZD $1.5 million at an event hosted by Webb's Auction House in Auckland, setting a new benchmark for indigenous portraiture in the country
The painting, Thoughts of a Tohunga, was created by renowned artist Charles Frederick Goldie and features Wharekauri Tahuna, a priest considered one of the last tattooed men of his generation.
The sale was conducted by the International Art Centre. The buyer, who remains anonymous, acquired what art critics regard as Goldie's finest work, painted nine years before his death in 1947.
The portrait captures Tahuna with a moko (traditional facial tattoo) and wearing a hei-tiki, a symbolic Māori pendant, highlighting Goldie's meticulous attention to cultural detail.
Director of the International Art Centre, Richard Thomson, noted that this was the first time the painting had been available for purchase in 33 years.
Mr Goldie, deeply respected by Māori during his lifetime, lived in Auckland and formed close connections with his subjects. His portraits remain highly sought after.
Since 2016, the auction house has sold 13 Goldie works, each fetching over NZ$1 million. Tahuna, one of Goldie's favorite subjects, appeared in several of his portraits, reflecting a significant artistic collaboration between the two.
The record-breaking sale occurs amid rising racial tensions in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Last week, a political controversy emerged over a proposed bill by the ACT Party—a minor partner in the coalition government—that seeks to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, the country's founding document with the Māori people.
Tens of thousands joined a nine-day protest march against the bill, which has been criticised for threatening Māori rights.
While the bill passed its first reading, it is unlikely to progress further, as key coalition partners have indicated they will not support it. Meanwhile, the Māori community, which makes up 18 per cent of Aotearoa's population, continues to face disparities in health, education, and income, with a seven-year gap in life expectancy compared to the general population.
The sale of Thoughts of a Tohunga highlights not only the artistic and cultural significance of Māori heritage but also the enduring challenges faced by the community in contemporary Aotearoa-New Zealand.