Tīhewa
Abstract
Tīhewa is a work that examines Māori identity formation using historical foundations to inform contemporary narratives. Tīhewa symbolises the transition of moving from one state to another in terms of growth, development, in the pursuit of excellence.
Tīhewa aims to take the audience on a journey of spiritual ascension, ancestral connection, and fulfilment of potential as you explore the spiritual, physical, intellectual and familial dimensions of the individual.
A collaborative rangahau partnership between Jamie Lambert (Māori Achievement) & Kent MacPherson (School of Media Arts), this multi-media experience asks people to interrogate who they are, why they are that way, and whether they are living the life their potential seeks and their tīpuna (ancestors) aspire to.

Key messages
The key messages to be explored are based on the identity formation of the individual and being aware of key contributors and companions in each individual's pursuit of excellence.
Curators
Jamie Lambert – Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tūhoe
Kent Macpherson
Artists
Erica Sinclair, Te Whānau a Apanui – Photography
Daniel Moeke, Ngāti Porou – Graphic Design
Jordan Foster
Dr Jeremy Mayall 
Tīhewa – Storyboard Concepts
1. Te uhi a te wāhi ngaro
The concept is a POV video projected on to the ceiling of RAMP. The person in the video has an uhi and is implying the following concepts:
a) Ancestors from above carving our future
b) Ancestors helping us to realise our potential
c) Use of uhi to depict carving/tārai to allow participants to realise our inner potential depicted as a moko.
d) Ancestors having their say on our direction, who we are and why we are the way we are.
2. Te pātūwatawata
a) Harry Potter concept:
This component represents ancestors that have gone before us. This is symbolic of photos of deceased tūpuna that hang inside a wharenui/whare tūpuna. The photos must be stylised images so as not to be seen to being disrespectful in any way or be seen as a tapu thing to do.
Ideally, these will be a combination of still and moving image. The photos should be still but timed to move and do particular actions (smile with pride at an action of their descendant, raise shoulders and hands to imply they don’t understand what their descendant is doing/disbelief, and slap their own forehead at pure disappointment at what their descendant is doing). Like the moving portraits on Harry Potter.
b) Ngā poutokotangata
This part is represented by 3x 1.5m pou which vary in states of completion. The first pou - 1x block of wood that someone has only just started on – representing an individual who is still learning and growing. The second pou – 1x half completed pou – representing an individual who although is still learning and developing has learnt alot so far. The third and final pou is close to completion/completed representing an individual who has been through their fair share of ups and downs but has come out on top. These are placed in between each of the tūpuna monitors.
3. Te roro o te whare
The concept here is to visually represent a wharenui. I want to print a large photo similar to te whare kōkōrangi example on to one of the walls. The wall opposite is another photo representing the back of a wharenui. This is to show that the marae is a place of grounding as with te uhi a te wāhi ngaro and te pātūwatawata, the marae is another conecpt that shapes, develops, grows the identity of the individual.
4. Āpiti hono, tātai hono
The concept for this component is represented visually using moko kauae images and their connections to key concepts in grounding identity. The moko kauae are connected by a life line down the middle of the moko and connecting it to a symbol of significance at the bottom of the image. This symbolises having strong connections to each of those concepts as a means for grounding and connections to strong identity.
a) Hineahuone – first woman/the beginning
Image connects moko to a stylised whare. This represents the beginning (first woman) and the marae as a communal point of knowing and being, and te whare tangata (birth & by default death), and knowing the marae keeps us a Māori connected and grounded.
b) Materoa – prominence & significance
Image connects moko to a hei tiki symbol. Materoa is a tūpuna rangatira. A hei tiki represents rangatira status. This represents the present being informed by the past. He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea. I am a seed born of greatness.
c) Hinenuitepō – new beginnings
This represents the journey of Hineahuone in her identity development from Hinetītama, to Hineahuone and Hinenuitepō. This is symbolic of the end of one phase and the beginning of a new phase. The image connects to Tāne which was one source of her shame but also allowed her to progress and move forward toward a new beginning.