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Story: Arts and social engagement

'Vive Aramoana'

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'Vive Aramoana'

'Vive Aramoana' was painted by Otago artist Ralph Hōtere in 1980 as a political statement against a proposal to build an aluminium smelter at the beachside township of Aramoana at the entrance to Otago Harbour. Such work and wider public protest helped to scuttle the scheme.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1980/44/2/X

by Ralph Hotere

Courtesy of the Hotere Foundation Trust

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, Arts and social engagement – Criticising society, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/45289/vive-aramoana (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 15 May 2014.