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Kōrero: Painting

Heather Straka, 'Jesus in furs'

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Heather Straka, 'Jesus in furs'

In 1882 Gottfried Lindauer painted Ngāti Maniapoto chief Rewi Maniapoto. In 2005 Heather Straka reworked the image in a new version shown here. This time Rewi has a golden halo around his head, the kurī (Polynesian dog) fur cloak is now fringed with a fox, and on his chest burns the flaming heart of the Catholic faith. Straka is both referencing a historical portrait and asking questions about the judgement, then and now, of Rewi Maniapoto.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Heather Straka

by Heather Straka

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Jock Phillips, Painting – Into the 2000s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/45921/heather-straka-jesus-in-furs (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Jock Phillips, i tāngia i te 4 July 2014.