Kauae Raro Research Collective

Kauae Raro Research Collective
He Kapunga Oneone
Formation2019 (2019)
Professional title
Artist and Research Collective
HeadquartersAotearoa, New Zealand
Key people
Sarah Hudson (Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko), Lanae Cable (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki), Jordan Davey-Emms (Ngāti Pākehā)
Websitehttps://www.kauaeraro.com/

The Kauae Raro Research Collective, also known as He Kapunga Oneone is an artist and research collective in Aotearoa, New Zealand focusing on the collection, archiving and usage of earth pigments in te ao Māori and art contexts.

History

The collective came together in 2019 by Sarah Hudson (Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko), Lanae Cable (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki) and Jordan Davey-Emms (Ngāti Pākehā).[1] Each of them bring different experiences and skills to their projects with backgrounds in areas of art, research and Māori medicine and traditional healing practices.[1] The core group of members are originally from and based near the Ōhinemataroa river in Whakatāne, but the reach of the collective spans much of Aotearoa, New Zealand.[2] Working as a collective has brought new opportunities for the artists involved, including having conversations with iwi regarding the colours used by the collective.[3]

The idea for the group originated from Hudson, Cable, and Davey-Emms taking a road trip together to Bay of Plenty and Taupō to locate and view Ngā Toi Ana (Māori rock art).[4] They came across many historical sites on their travels, including a 'petra glyphe' or 'carved rock wall' home to traditional art of Ngāti Manawa originally recorded from the 16th and early 17th centuries upon their land occupation.[4] They also surveyed the colours of Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain)[2][4] and a rock wall painting done with kōkōwai (red ochre) in the mountain of Lake Tarawera.[4]

Their practice as a collective involves the search for pigments, the treatment of them as taonga and with mātauranga Māori in mind, and the education on how they are used whether that be medically inclined, spiritual healing, painting or adornment.[4] The members reach out to practitioners of weaving and carving who use different native plants in their colour palettes with the intent of rediscovering the methods of past generations as well as reclaiming land.[1][2][4]

As a research and art focused collective they are clear that they aren't about making strictly research outcomes, but instead using the research to influence and inform their practice.[4] However physical findings and experiments of theirs are frequently published by them online in a free and sharable format,[5] or presented in person workshops for multiple age groups.[3]

Projects

Date Title People Location
2023 Kauae Raro Commission[6] Kauae Raro Research Collective Te Papa
23 September 2023 – 19 May 2024 Te Mata Tūroa o Papa, This Natural World[7] Raewyn Atkinson, Chris Charteris, Karl Fritsch, Eléna Gee, Christine Hellyar, Kauae Raro Research Collective, Alan Preston, Joe Sheehan, Te Aue Takotoroa Davis Te Papa

Members

Sarah Hudson (Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko)

Hudson's strategies of dealing with the politics of the use of whenua regarding the collective have been pointed out.[8] Alongside her participation in Kauae Raro, she is also a key member of the Mataaho Collective.[9]

Lanae Cable (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki)

Cable uses earth pigments in their practice via staining and dying in a journey to reconnect with her whakapapa, whenua and identity.[10] All the different pigments she uses are sampled on bandanas.[10]

Jordan Davey-Emms (Ngāti Pākehā)

Davey-Emms is an artist and curator for Wormhole Gallery in Edgecumbe, Whakatāne and was formerly a member of the collective from 2019–2022.[11] In her artistic practice she conveys various themes related to the making process, the environment and identity.[11] Furthermore she has pieces of writing published in Plates Journal, Vernacular, Wormhole Gallery's online publication site.[11]

Kahu Kutia (Ngāi Tūhoe)

Kutia is a writer, artist, and Māori climate activist[12] in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, alongside being listed as a member of the collective.[8] She has published work in Vice NZ, Te Ao Mārama, and The Wireless.[12]

Recognition

The collective were recognised in 2022 by contemporary New Zealand artist, Ayesha Green in a Stuff interview discussing some of her favourite things.[13] Green makes note of their 'dedicat[ion] to Māori art sovereignty through whenua and whakapapa.'[13]

Additionally in 2022, Creative New Zealand reported that in the past two years they had funded 35 different initiatives in the arts including 'ngā tae oneone (use of earth pigments).'[14] They supplied funding to the Kauae Raro Research Collective for a year to assist in their online resource project.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "KAUAE RARO research collective". WILD PIGMENT PROJECT. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Kauae Raro Research Collective's passion for earth pigments". RNZ. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Fox, Rebecca (19 May 2022). "Colours from the whenua". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bassett, Kane (11 May 2021). "Kauae Raro Research Collective: from birthday week road trips to making paint out of dirt". Te Mana Ākonga. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  5. ^ Jolley, Rangimarie Sophie (22 April 2023). "Te Hīkoi Toi: Breaking rocks to create art". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Activity A: Reflecting te taiao in the arts | te Papa".
  7. ^ "This Natural World | te Papa".
  8. ^ "Sarah Hudson | Artists | Toi Iho". www.toiiho.org.nz. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Lanae Cable". Tautai Pacific Arts Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "Play workshop: Headshot kitchen with Jordan Davey-Emms". Te Tuhi. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Kahu Kutia". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  12. ^ a b Battersby, Shandelle (3 June 2022). "Meet the maker: Visual artist Ayesha Green". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Protecting, cultivating and retaining precious mātauranga toi". creativenz.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
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