Taimania Toia

Reipae and Reitu is a Maori mythological story, which originates from the Northern area of New Zealand and is relatively well known amongst northern Maori.

The narrative, which will inform my final studio project, will be illustrated through the format of a digital/moving image art installation. The story will be projected onto a wall space. It is envisaged that the completed installation will be projected on to a large wall within a 3m x 3m space. In the design of this project I intend to use elements, which communicate both my Maori and Pakeha backgrounds to tell this story as well as modernise or ‘bring this story to life’ within a contemporary Maori design context.

The story is about Reipae and Reitu who take a journey to marry Ueoneone, a Northern chief. The chief sends for the sisters who then journey to Whangape (Hokianga) to join him. Awhile stopping during the journey Reipae decides against continuing North. This particular stop inspires the naming of Whangarei (Whangareipae).

This is ultimately a story of love, betrayal and relationships and about the origins of the Patuharakeke (hapu) people. This is an important project and story personally, because this is a story about where I come from and where my Maori origins locate, namely the Northern and Waikato regions.