Goldie accused of throwing smoke over real Maori values

Artist Charles Goldie has been accused of wrongly portraying smoking as part of Maori culture.

The accusation was levelled at a parliamentary select committee yesterday in a debate over a Goldie painting.

Ira Norman, 70, giving evidence before the health select committee in Auckland, said that her great-great-grandfather, Te Ahoterangi Wharepu, was portrayed by Goldie as smoking a pipe.

But he did not smoke.

Goldie had painted the pipe into the portrait in the 1930s, decades after her non-smoking ancestor (tupuna) died.

Mrs Norman was among the group Te Piringa O Nga Kaumatua Ki Mangere speaking before the committee considering the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Bill 1999 and supplementary order paper.

As it stands, the bill would force owners of bars, restaurants and casinos to make at least half their public areas smoke-free and with separate ventilation.

Mrs Norman said that diseases caused by smoking had stricken her family's health. The family were introduced to tobacco by American forces during World War II.

The group wanted all workplaces and schools declared smoke-free.

Another member of the group, Nicola MacDonald, said the Goldie portrait showed that generations of Maori had thought it all right to smoke.

"This generation of Maori is saying smoking is part of our culture. But our tupuna did not smoke.

"We don't want our children growing up thinking smoking is part of our culture," she said.

Last night, Auckland art auctioneer Dunbar Sloane said Mrs Norman could be confusing two paintings.

"Goldie had his favourites who he would ask to sit for him time and again.

"Sometimes he would paint them in the same pose, sometimes he would add different props like shark-tooth earrings, tikis or pipes.

"It is unlikely he would have added to a painting at a later date.

"He wanted to sell them, so they would go straight onto the market."

Goldie is one of New Zealand's best-known artists, and Mr Sloane has sold several of his works, including the portrait of Ngapuhi chieftainess Harata Rewiri Tarapata, which last year fetched $300,000.

An expert on Maori smoking, Dr Marewa Glover, said the earliest age that she had discovered a Maori child smoking was at 3.

It was "fairly common" for eight-year-old Maori to start smoking, but the most common starting age was 15 years.

Dr Glover said her research showed educational institutions ought to be included in the smoke-free legislation.

But not all submissions to the select committee supported smoke-free environments.

Patrick Chandulal, who established the Cuba Cigar Emporium cocktail lounge and bar in Parnell, said in a written submission that he did not expect non-smokers in his premises.

His patrons ought to have the choice to go to his cigar bar, and his staff - who supported his submission - ought to have the choice of whether to work there.

nzherald.co.nz/health