Artwork Information

Hori Kerei Taiaroa belonged to the prominent Ngai Tahu family of Taiaroa. He was christened Hori Kerei after former Governer Sir George Grey. Taiaroa grew up in Otakou on the Otago peninsula and was taught to read and write by Wesleyan missionaries. He was known as a pragmatic politician,for he advanced Ngāi Tahu land claims against the government but didn’t live to see a settlement outcome. He died in 1905.