Hotere family attend ceremony

The Northlander regarded as New Zealand's greatest living artist has been awarded the country's highest honour in a ceremony in Dunedin.

Hone Papita Raukura (Ralph) Hotere was named a Member of the Order of New Zealand - an honour limited to just 20 living people - in the New Year's Honours, and received his insignia from Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on March 30, shortly after Mr Hotere's 80th birthday.

Born in Mitimiti, on the west coast north of the Hokianga harbour, Mr Hotere now lives in Dunedin.

He suffered a debilitating stroke 11 years ago and was unable to travel to Government House in Wellington for the investiture, so the Governor-General, along with 50 close friends and family members, came to him.

All five surviving siblings from a family of 15, three of whom live in Kaitaia, took part in the ceremony.

Charlotte Courtenay said seeing her brother receive New Zealand's highest honour was "awesome", while Sir Jerry said membership of the order spoke of service, merit, endeavour, perseverance, commitment, excellence and, above all, mana.

Mr Hotere's contribution as an artist had enriched New Zealand's cultural and social fabric, he said.

Judith Ablett-Kerr, who chairs the Hotere Foundation Trust, spoke on Mr Hotere's behalf after the investiture, saying he was feeling well and had been looking forward to the ceremony.

He had told her he thought it was the best day of his life.

"He is very proud, and we are very proud of him," she said.

Meanwhile the albatross feathers Mr Hotere and his wife Mary McFarlane wore in their hair for the investiture were gifts from Taiaroa Head albatross colony guide Mary Laurenson.

Regulations prohibit the collecting or keeping of feathers, so she gave the couple two that had belonged to her mother, the only two she owned.

"I thought they should go to Mr Hotere rather than sit in a drawer," she said. "It was the right thing to do, and I cried like a baby when I saw him wearing one today. Look at what he has done for our country. Look at what he has done for Maoridom."

The Order of New Zealand medal is returned upon a recipient's death and presented to another. The medal awarded to Mr Hotere was previously worn by the Rt Rev Manuhuia Bennett, Anglican Archbishop of Aotearoa from 1968-81, and Sir Paul Reeves, Archbishop of New Zealand and Governor-General.