B.

KO WAI KOE?

Behind the scenes

On this day in 1987, the Maori Language Act came into force, making te reo Māori an official language of New Zealand.

Ralph Hotere Drawing (KO WAI KOE?) 1977. Lacquer, ink, pencil. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased. 1978. Reproduced courtesy of Ralph Hotere

Ralph Hotere Drawing (KO WAI KOE?) 1977. Lacquer, ink, pencil. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased. 1978. Reproduced courtesy of Ralph Hotere

This dark, richly marked drawing by Ralph Hotere from a decade asks: Tenei taku manu te rere atu nei – he karere – no Te whitinga mai o te ra. Pataia mai – i ahu mai koe i hea? KO WAI KOE. (This is my bird that flies to you – a messenger from where the sun rises. It asks from where have you come? WHO ARE YOU?)