Māori artist Fred Graham dies, New Zealand arts community pays tribute
'He was an example for the young ones... not just in the art world... His mantra was 'whatever you set your mind to, you can be successful in'.'
Papa said while Graham had now passed on to the realm of night, his art was his biggest legacy and would last for generations to come.
Papa said numerous people from all over New Zealand, including artist Kura Te Waru Rewiri, and others from Wellington, Palmerston North and the Bay of Plenty, had already come to Pōhara Marae near Cambridge to pay their respects.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage said on social media Graham was a 'formidable presence' in Aotearoa New Zealand's art scene.
'Graham's legacy in Māori art will be remembered in the story of New Zealand for years to come.'
Creative New Zealand said they acknowledged the passing of a 'larger than life artist, mentor, and trailblazer in the world of Māori arts'.
'A master carver, sculptor, and educator, his contributions have profoundly shaped the landscape of Aotearoa's artistic identity and elevated the presence and prestige of Māori art nationally and internationally,' the statement reads.
'His legacy is one of integrity, innovation, and deep cultural grounding.'
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery Museum & Arts director Liz Cotton said Graham was 'a true pioneer'.
'He will be greatly missed both as an artist and as a mentor who generously shared his maatauranga with younger generations,' Cotton said.
'Matua Fred's legacy will continue to be felt across the motu and here at the Museum. As visitors enter our foyer, they are welcomed by his beautiful sculpture 'Keriana' which was carved in 1984 and represents a bird that shelters the young under her wing.
'Also, the beloved centrepiece of our marae aatea is the bold and symbolic waharoa 'Te Mauri o Te Iwi'.
'Moe mai raa e te Rangatira.'
Graham represented New Zealand at many international exhibitions throughout his career, including the 1986 Te Ao Marama (Seven Māori Artists) exhibition that toured Australia and a 1992 United States tour showcasing contemporary Māori art.
In 2017 he received the Creative New Zealand Te Waka Toi supreme award for his lifetime of service to the advancement of Māori art and cultural leadership.
More recently he exhibited at the Venice Biennale, where several of his paintings and sculptures shared a gallery space with the work of his son, Brett Graham.
In 1955, Graham was selected as a Māori All Black, and played three games.
Graham was also a teacher, starting his career in Northland, before moving to Toihoukura in Gisborne and Papakura High School where he was head of art in the 1960s and 70s. At PHS, he coached the First XV to win the Moascar Cup in 1970.
In the 2025 New Year Honours, he was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori art. In 2018, he was made an officer of the NZ Order of Merit.
Graham has produced sculptures that are displayed in many New Zealand cities and towns as well as international galleries.
His recent work includes the sculpture 'Waka Maumahara' located between the four-lane Hamilton section and the SH1C offramp and 'Te Manu Rangimaarie' (bird of peace) at the Piarere roundabout just north of Tīrau.
Other work is in the courtyard of the High Court at Auckland (Justice), on the wall outside Auckland Art Gallery (Te Waka Toi o Tamaki) and in the Auckland Domain (Kaitiaki).
Graham was preparing for the opening of the exhibition 'Fred Graham: Toi Whakaata / Reflections' at Christchurch Art Gallery. His nephew Papa said it was still to be confirmed if it would go ahead.
Graham previously lived in Waiuku.
He was the beloved husband of the late Norma and leaves behind his children Gary, Paula, Kathryn, Brett and Kara, and nine grandchildren.
His funeral service will be held in Ngāruawāhia at the Chapel at Hopuhopu Sports Grounds (451 Old Taupiri Rd), which Graham designed together with Norma, at 11am tomorrow.
Papa said anyone who would like to farewell Graham was welcome.
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NZ Herald
2 days ago
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Shona Graham honoured for 30 years of volunteering in Katikati
'I particularly love kids,' Graham said. 'That's where I'm most comfortable.' Why? 'Oh, you just learn from them all the time – like you're teaching them, but you're learning from them too,' Graham said. 'They're so open. I love that about them, you know, as adults, we close off a bit. 'We show the parts of ourselves that we want to be seen, whereas just like kids, I still like to be silly … I don't know … I get them, and they get me." Katikati Community Centre staff Nicky Austin, Rochelle Morrow, volunteer Shona Graham, with Jan de Faye and Sally Goodyear at work on a Katikati Spring Clean. Photo / Supplied Graham enjoys starting her week with two hours of reading with Katikati Primary students. At June's Kati Chat, the 56-year-old was recognised for 30 years of volunteer work in her community of Katikati. Graham was enjoying hearing about others being celebrated when she was presented with a Lifetime Volunteer Award, by Volunteering Services for her outstanding contribution. Graham said when she answered a newspaper advert calling for volunteers to help with Katikati's Christmas Float Parade back in 1995, she never imagined it would spark a 30-year journey in community service. 'I thought that would be a good way to meet people. It all started from there.' A pregnant Graham and partner Peter Cox had moved to Katikati from the United Kingdom with their 3-year-old daughter Hannah in 1995 and bought a lifestyle block south of town. 'Hannah was in kindy and it [volunteering] was just a way to get into the community really.' The parade work morphed into volunteering at Katikati Resource Centre – today called Katikati Community Centre – then the school holiday programme and after-school care, and on to all kinds of expos and events hosted by the centre. 'I met Chris Ridder [former Katikati Resource Centre manager] and she'd just started the school holiday programme the year before. 'I was like: 'Yeah, we'll give it a whirl' and I'm still there. Then of course I just became part and parcel of the centre,' Graham said. Other acts of love have been participating in Katikati's annual Spring Clean events with daughter Phoebe, health expos and in recent years, community picnics and the Festival of Cultures. 'This is a big one for me. I love this. 'I just feel it brings our community together and it's so lovely to see how many different cultures live here.' Graham smiles when she thinks of how the Recognised Seasonal Employer workers get so into it: 'I love that they're so enthusiastic'. Shona Graham with her Lifetime Volunteer Award, presented by Volunteering Services, in recognition of her 30 years of outstanding contribution. Photo / Supplied How did she volunteer when she had two preschool-aged kids? 'Peter and I were gardeners, so I was lucky enough to have both of my girls at home when they were little. The block of land we bought was bare and we wanted to be as self-sufficient as we could,' the avid vege gardener said. 'So I didn't have to work full-time because of the simple lifestyle that we chose.' Graham said Cox reinvented himself, turning his hands to all sorts of work. When Phoebe went to school, the couple took on gardening and never looked back. Cox got roped into various things, 'usually for the holiday programme'. Volunteering is a family affair for Graham. Her mother volunteered when she was young – and now daughter Phoebe volunteers at the centre. 'My mum had the time and she taught us that if you can give back a bit, it just makes our communities work and you meet people you wouldn't usually.' After nearly three decades, Graham said she's practically part of the building: 'The centre's been such a big part of my life – and I guess I've become part of it too. Some of the kids I'm working with now are the children of people I did classes for years ago. 'It's pretty special.' So what keeps driving her to keep giving? 'Volunteering is so good for the soul. Once you start, you'll see how if everyone gave a little bit back, our communities would all be thriving.' She knows for some 'it's not their bag', but for Graham, 'I'm a people person. I love it.' Katikati Community Centre manager Nicky Austin said it would be impossible to count the hours that Graham had given to her community. 'She's cheery, positive, hard-working, and we couldn't survive without her.' Katikati News had to sit in with her on a Katikati Primary School reading recovery lesson just to catch up with her. The school's literacy specialist teacher, Andrea Menhinick, said Graham was a huge asset to their team of volunteer readers. 'She forms beautiful relationships [with the students], she's just so pleased to see the kids, and they pick that up. 'But what I find exceptional about her is that even when students are on their way to assembly, and they have to just sit and wait – Shona is there with a child and a book so that she makes the use of every minute,' Menhinick said. 'She is so invested in the children.' Shona Graham with Katikati Community Centre's Rochelle Morrow. Photo / Supplied This journalist remembers Graham being a comforting voice the first time she dropped her child off for the school holiday programme. However, Graham is quick to say others are more worthy of an award than her. 'I don't like to blow my own horn.' But she was very proud. 'It was lovely to be recognised. My daughters and Peter were very proud, and he thought it was hilarious because he knows I don't like being in the spotlight.'
Scoop
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Principals Call For Alternative Assessments To Stay Beyond 2027
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