The Proclamation

• 820 x 1010mm
• Acrylic, newsprint and compressed charcoal on board
• 2024
• $4500

On 30 January 1865, Governor George Grey issued a proclamation to seize the middle Taranaki district, between the Waitara River and the Waimate Stream. On 2 September he issued further proclamations, confiscating the Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Ruanui districts, effectively seizing all of Taranaki from Parinihi to Whanganui and including Taranaki Maunga (a significant spiritual place for Māori). These confiscations were made due to ‘supposed’ Māori rebellion although most of the areas taken had little or nothing to do with the war at the time. (The Taranaki Report – Kaupapa Tuatahi – Waitangi Tribunal Report 1996)

This painting highlights the extent of the area of land confiscated in Taranaki (bordered in white) locating Cape Egmont National Park (including Taranaki Maunga) for scale.