My name is Lana Te Wiata Wright. I am a niece of the late Inia Te Wiata. He and my father Tauhia (Tau) were very close brothers. I have just found this little clip of Uncle Inia carving the pouihi. You used to be able to buy the dvd and cd compilation at JB Hi-Fi in Auckland. The dvd is quite comprehensive and shows you a lot of the carving. Yes it was called "Just Call Me Happy". Our Maori heritage is Ngati Raukawa though one of Uncle Inia's grandmothers (my great grandmother) Ketewhia Takarore I have heard had roots in Taranaki originally though I do not have confirmation of this. I doubt very much Uncle Inia won the right to carve the pouihi in a raffle. He was commissioned to do so as he was a renowed carver in his own right. Also an international opera singer and an actor having starred in movies with well known actors Hayley Mills and the late Jack Hawkins. I remember him, having met him when I was three years old. Outstretched arms and a big smile. Never stop missing him. Always put flowers on his grave when I get to Otaki. New Zealand was always foremost in his heart and he planned to return to retire but sadly he didn't make it. Lovely reading all the comments.
My father and I frequently visited Inia when he was carving this magnificent work in the basement of New Zealand House, where my father was commissioned to paint Inia's portrait while hard at work on the final stages. Inia was one of the most impressive people I have ever met and indeed looking back I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have had the opportunity in my teens to meet such a remarkable human being. I remember Inia explaining the meaning of the Pouihi to me and why he was inspired to create it. It is about the whole 1000 year history of New Zealand and is indeed intended to stand tall in a divided world as a beacon for the ultimate achievement of unity of common purpose and heritage between our different cultures. It is this true meaning of "Commonwealth" that was so appropriately honoured by Her Majesty the Queen Mother at the unveiling ceremony in 1972. This is Inia's true legacy, a timeless example for people of all cultures, religions and nationalities to look after our planet and to have respect for each other. It is a simple message, but one which is in grave danger in our world today of being once again forgotten. Apart from being a New Zealand artist and political cartoonist, my father (Francis Desmond Choate) was also an amateur boat builder. Sharing this common interest in timber that lies at the heart of our combined European and Maori heritage in New Zealand, my father and Inia became great friends and as a family we were all deeply saddened at Inia's passing before he had managed to finish his Pouihi. My father also sadly died in 2001 and I am not sure where his portrait of Inia is today, although I still have some photographs I took of it shortly after he painted it at the time. It strikes me as a good idea to suggest that the whereabouts of the painting be traced so that it could be hung on public display in New Zealand House next to Inia's famous work, as was my understanding of the original intention. In this way, perhaps today's younger generation could also see and appreciate in ways far more meaningful than just a photograph the man who created this most incredible carving, his wonderful gift to the world.
Inia Te Wiata was a great friend of Eric Ramsden, the editor, art critic and confidant of Maori Princess Te Puea Herangi, CBE. This is the most amazing video of one man's skill and work I have ever seen. The length of endurance (7 years) is similar to the works of Michelangelo. Am so glad to have touched this Pouihi a number of times and have tried (and continue to try) to encourage the NZ House/Embassy /High Commisioner to screen project this video onto the wall adjacent to it, and celebrate this incredible carving for special state occcasions.
Your great uncle is one of the greatest singers Aotearoa has ever produced, I would be proud of that, much love!. He was good friends with Spike Milligan, comedy genius.
Only now do I see this; after all these years. Happy, as he was known to us, was among our very best friends. I still keep in touch with Beryl and Rima,. I used to babysit Rima...burped her over my shoulder a few times. I remember a slightly different story about how Happy came to take the Pouihi project: he won a competition organised by NZ House. I still remember his ball-shaped submission. And I recall visiting him during the work, He died before finishing. Symbolic...
Hi Puawai, The doco was on a DVD which was included with a compilation cd of Inia's songs. It may be called, "Just call me Happy'. You can get it through the Auckland Library and the National Library. www.elgar.govt.nz:80/record=b2280804~S1 You could contact Beryl, his wife who provided the original footage, I think.
There is a 20 minute documentary of this I sat thoroughly engrossed in currently on display as part of the This Is New Zealand exhibition on at Wellington's wonderful City Gallery in Civic Square.
I remember more than 55 years ago hearing this great singer singing on old 78's that my granddad had. I still have the old oak cabinet that the gramophone was in. Sadly, like the gramophone granddad has long passed.
My name is Lana Te Wiata Wright. I am a niece of the late Inia Te Wiata. He and my father Tauhia (Tau) were very close brothers. I have just found this little clip of Uncle Inia carving the pouihi. You used to be able to buy the dvd and cd compilation at JB Hi-Fi in Auckland. The dvd is quite comprehensive and shows you a lot of the carving. Yes it was called "Just Call Me Happy". Our Maori heritage is Ngati Raukawa though one of Uncle Inia's grandmothers (my great grandmother) Ketewhia Takarore I have heard had roots in Taranaki originally though I do not have confirmation of this. I doubt very much Uncle Inia won the right to carve the pouihi in a raffle. He was commissioned to do so as he was a renowed carver in his own right. Also an international opera singer and an actor having starred in movies with well known actors Hayley Mills and the late Jack Hawkins. I remember him, having met him when I was three years old. Outstretched arms and a big smile. Never stop missing him. Always put flowers on his grave when I get to Otaki. New Zealand was always foremost in his heart and he planned to return to retire but sadly he didn't make it. Lovely reading all the comments.
I had the honor of performing with Inia at Scottish Opera and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. A prince of a man and a great singer!
My father and I frequently visited Inia when he was carving this magnificent work in the basement of New Zealand House, where my father was commissioned to paint Inia's portrait while hard at work on the final stages. Inia was one of the most impressive people I have ever met and indeed looking back I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have had the opportunity in my teens to meet such a remarkable human being. I remember Inia explaining the meaning of the Pouihi to me and why he was inspired to create it. It is about the whole 1000 year history of New Zealand and is indeed intended to stand tall in a divided world as a beacon for the ultimate achievement of unity of common purpose and heritage between our different cultures. It is this true meaning of "Commonwealth" that was so appropriately honoured by Her Majesty the Queen Mother at the unveiling ceremony in 1972. This is Inia's true legacy, a timeless example for people of all cultures, religions and nationalities to look after our planet and to have respect for each other. It is a simple message, but one which is in grave danger in our world today of being once again forgotten. Apart from being a New Zealand artist and political cartoonist, my father (Francis Desmond Choate) was also an amateur boat builder. Sharing this common interest in timber that lies at the heart of our combined European and Maori heritage in New Zealand, my father and Inia became great friends and as a family we were all deeply saddened at Inia's passing before he had managed to finish his Pouihi. My father also sadly died in 2001 and I am not sure where his portrait of Inia is today, although I still have some photographs I took of it shortly after he painted it at the time. It strikes me as a good idea to suggest that the whereabouts of the painting be traced so that it could be hung on public display in New Zealand House next to Inia's famous work, as was my understanding of the original intention. In this way, perhaps today's younger generation could also see and appreciate in ways far more meaningful than just a photograph the man who created this most incredible carving, his wonderful gift to the world.
Inia Te Wiata was a great friend of Eric Ramsden, the editor, art critic and confidant of Maori Princess Te Puea Herangi, CBE. This is the most amazing video of one man's skill and work I have ever seen. The length of endurance (7 years) is similar to the works of Michelangelo. Am so glad to have touched this Pouihi a number of times and have tried (and continue to try) to encourage the NZ House/Embassy /High Commisioner to screen project this video onto the wall adjacent to it, and celebrate this incredible carving for special state occcasions.
He's my great uncle... my nanna Sarah is his sister... proud as 😍😍
Your great uncle is one of the greatest singers Aotearoa has ever produced, I would be proud of that, much love!.
He was good friends with Spike Milligan, comedy genius.
@@kohekade2961 I'm so proud
What a privelidge to observe this great man.
Only now do I see this; after all these years. Happy, as he was known to us, was among our very best friends. I still keep in touch with Beryl and Rima,. I used to babysit Rima...burped her over my shoulder a few times. I remember a slightly different story about how Happy came to take the Pouihi project: he won a competition organised by NZ House. I still remember his ball-shaped submission. And I recall visiting him during the work, He died before finishing. Symbolic...
Id love to find a copy of this documentary if you could help. Inia Te Wiata is my great grandfather.
Hi Puawai,
The doco was on a DVD which was included with a compilation cd of Inia's songs. It may be called, "Just call me Happy'. You can get it through the Auckland Library and the National Library.
www.elgar.govt.nz:80/record=b2280804~S1
You could contact Beryl, his wife who provided the original footage, I think.
There is a 20 minute documentary of this I sat thoroughly engrossed in currently on display as part of the This Is New Zealand exhibition on at Wellington's wonderful City Gallery in Civic Square.
Your great grandfather was one of the greatest of all time, absolute perfection.
while i was in nz in 1970 ibougth two of his tapes what a great singer
Matua is truely blessed by his tipuna, just amazing mahi
Simply amazing
I remember more than 55 years ago hearing this great singer singing on old 78's that my granddad had. I still have the old oak cabinet that the gramophone was in. Sadly, like the gramophone granddad has long passed.
Mean mahi. Tena koe mo to mahi tino rangatira Kei a koe. Thank you for your mahi on my wharenui in Pukawa, Manunui-A-Ruakapanga.
As a 8th generation kiwi of scottish descent, this song is nothing closer to the feeling of belonging to me.
Master
Awesome
Arohanui ki te Tohunga Ko Inia Te Wiata
What’s the song from 3:00?
I'm shore he has ngapuhi blood....
😂 whaaaatever chief.
Yes, I wasn't too sure about that. I have his Biography here. He was born and bred in Otaki and left to go and learn to carve in Ngaruawahia.