Painting of Māori elder fetches record price in New Zealand auction

An oil painting of a Māori elder by renowned New Zealand artist Charles Frederick Goldie set a new auction record on Tuesday, becoming the most valuable artwork of its kind in the country’s history.

The portrait, titled Thoughts of a Tohunga, depicts Wharekauri Tahuna, a priest believed to be one of the last fully tattooed men (with a moko) of his generation. Painted in 1938, nine years before Goldie’s death in 1947, it is considered by critics to be among his finest works.

The painting fetched NZ$3.75 million ($2.2 million; £1.7 million), marking the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction in New Zealand, according to the auction house.

The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, also sets a record for the most valuable Māori portrait in the country’s art history.

This auction takes place amid rising racial tensions in New Zealand. Recent government proposals have drawn criticism from Māori communities, who argue that the measures could undermine their rights.

The artwork features Tahuna adorned with a traditional facial moko and wearing a hei-tiki pendant, symbolizing Māori heritage and identity.

“Goldie was well loved by Māori during his lifetime, [he] lived in Auckland and met his subjects,” Richard Thomson, director at the International Art Centre told the BBC, adding that this was the first time the painting had gone on sale in 33 years.

“New Zealanders have an affinity with their history and portraits by Goldie have always been sought after,” he said, adding that since 2016 his auction house has sold 13 Goldie paintings, with buyers paying more than a million New Zealand dollars each time.

Wharekauri Tahuna was one of Goldie’s favourite subjects and featured in a number of his works.

Māori people make up approximately 18% of New Zealand’s population, but they continue to face significant disadvantages compared to the general population, as reflected in factors such as health outcomes, household income, education levels, and incarceration and mortality rates. A seven-year life expectancy gap persists between Māori and non-Māori populations.

Last week, a political party attempted to pass a bill aimed at reinterpreting the Treaty of Waitangi, the country’s founding agreement with Māori.

In response, thousands participated in a nine-day march against the bill, which ultimately failed to pass.