Henare Tahuri
Whatatutu

Father of six, husband to Tawera, teacher and practising visual and performing artist; Henare also tutors in moteatea, kapa haka, creates his own 2D relief work, and takes care of the tikanga and kawa of Toihoukura Visual Art and Design School at Tairawhiti Polytech. 
A member of Whangara Mai Tawhiti, the 2007 champion Kapa Haka group, Henare has also led his whanau group Te Rerenga Kotuku Kahungunu ki Wairoa achieving Kaitataki Tane o te rohe o Kahungunu - most outstanding male performer, three times.  He is a loyal and dedicated man who is wise beyond his years and who takes a lead role whenever the need arises. 
As a prefect at Gisborne boys High, Henare also led Turanga Wahine Turanga Tane as Kaitataki Tane in both his junior and senior years and it was here that his relationship with mentor Derek Lardelli began.  
Henare has travelled extensively throughout the world exhibiting his work, both art and performance.  Henare has also modelled on the cat walk for labels Tribal Fibres and Hinu, he and wife Tawera's own label.  He is also a key part of the team that put together the 'Kakahu Matariki Maori Fashion Show', an event seeded in Whatatutu and brought into being by Henare, Tawera and other members of their extended whanau.
Henare's work reflects his deeply held religious beliefs and is explored by his thesis exhibition to be held later in the year.  Entitled Te hapa whakamutunga,The Last Supper, the work looks at each of the 12 disciples and their roles in the life of Christ.  Henare's work attempts to answer the question "What has this got to do with Maori art?" 
Henare's most recent body of works were exhibited and sold at Arvea Gallery in Auckland City.  They are almost minimalist in nature and focus on the trinity in Maori spiritualism, Te Toko Toru Tapu.  Using the colours black, red and white Henare references the different cultural threads that go through the eye of God.  His work also references the Recesses of the Mind and thought patterns. Religion. Is it a Maori whakaaro or a Pakeha one?
Henare is extremely skilled at 2D relief work using modern media like MDF, and he also paints, designs, carves and sculpts. A very technical artist, Henare meticulously works to scale drawings. Henare's current interests also lead him into working with digital images.

Based in their studio/gallery in Whatatutu, Henare and wife Tawera are available for cultural presentations, for example on the rituals of Maori encounters.  They exhibit and do commission art work such as paintings, 21st keys and sculptures, logos and garments.  They are happy to teach adult art classes such as the one they run from Whatatutu School Tuesday nights at 7pm. contact Henare on:  taweratahuri@yahoo.co.nz