HEREMI HARPUR: MAKER OF TAONGA PUORO

Tena koutou katoa. Ko Heremi Harpur taku ikoa. Ko Te Wahi Pounamu te whenua. No te uri ahau a Rakaihautu, Hotu Mamoe, Tahupotiki. Ko Waitaha ratau ko Kati Mamoe, ko Kai Tahu ka Iwi. Ko Aoraki raua ko Hikaororoa ka mauka. Ko Waitaki raua ko Waikouaiti ka awa. Ko Te Tai o Mahaanui te moana. Ko Hawea, ko Wanaka, ko Wakatipu wai-Maori ka roto. Ko Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki te marae me te Runaka. Ko Harpur toku tupuna ikoa Airihi. Ko te tikaka o tana ikoa ko te ‘harp’ he momo puoro whakataki. Ko kaiwhakataki raua ko whakairo ka Taoka Puoro aku mahi. Mo tatau, a, mo ka uri a muri ake nei.

Artist name: Heremi Harpur

Artist Iwi: Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu

Media: Taonga Puoro (Maori musical instruments) in wood, stone and bone.

Heremi Harpur (Jeremy Cloake) was born in Whanganui a Tara (Welington), Aotearoa, 29.05.76 and is now based in Tamaki Makau-rau (Auckland). Heremi is Maori for Jeremy and Harpur is his Irish ancestral name. He carves under this name to acknowledge his Maori and Irish ancestry and the important role his ancestors play in shaping his future. Harpur is a musicians name taken from harp that literally means harp and pipe player. He shares ancestry with “Australia’s most recognised colonial poet” Charles Harpur. His Maori Tupuna (ancestors) are Waitaha, Kati Mamoe and Kai Tahu (tribal groups) from Te Waka a Aoraki (south island).

Heremi is both a carver of Taonga Puoro and a musician, specialising in playing ‘world’ instruments. Through his relationship with his work as a carver and a player of Taonga Puoro, Heremi is able to refine his instruments from both perspectives. He is a meticulous carver who makes all of his instruments knowing that they will live on much longer than him. He is becoming known for his fine carving work and quality musical instruments. His work is in private collections within Aotearoa and in Japan, Europe and the UK.