A Charles Frederick Goldie oil painting of a Māori elder, Wharekauri Tahuna, has set a record at auction, selling for NZ$3.75 million (approximately $2.2 million or £1.7 million). This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction in New Zealand and represents the most valuable Māori portrait in the country’s art history.
The painting, titled “Thoughts of a Tohunga,” was created nine years before Goldie’s death in 1947 and is considered by art critics to be his best work. It depicts Tahuna, a priest who is believed to be one of the last tattooed men of his generation, wearing a traditional facial moko (tattoo) and a hei-tiki pendant around his neck.
Richard Thomson, director at the International Art Centre, explained that Goldie was well-respected among Māori during his lifetime, having lived in Auckland and personally met his subjects. The painting’s sale is particularly significant as it is the first time it has been on the market in 33 years.
The artwork’s sale comes at a time of heightened racial tensions in New Zealand. The Māori population, which comprises about 18% of the country’s inhabitants, continues to face significant socioeconomic challenges. There remains a seven-year life expectancy gap between Māori and non-Māori populations, with disparities evident in health outcomes, household income, education levels, and incarceration rates.
These tensions have been further highlighted by recent political developments. Last week, the Act political party, a minor partner in the coalition government, attempted to pass a bill that would reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document with Māori people. This proposed legislation sparked considerable controversy, with thousands of people participating in a nine-day march against the bill.
Thomson noted that Goldie’s paintings have consistently been in high demand, with his auction house selling 13 of the artist’s works since 2016, each fetching over a million New Zealand dollars. Wharekauri Tahuna was particularly special to Goldie, having been featured in multiple works.
While the bill proposed by Act passed its first reading, it is unlikely to proceed further, as the coalition partners have indicated they will not support it. This reflects the ongoing complex relationship between Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand, a context that adds depth to the significance of this record-breaking art sale.
The painting’s high value and the attention it has received underscore the cultural importance of Goldie’s work in capturing and preserving Māori heritage, while also highlighting the continued relevance of discussions about representation, history, and cultural identity in New Zealand.
