Oliver, Richard Aldworth 1811-1889 :Rangi-Hira (Flash of Lightning), the wife of the chief Rangihaeta. [1851?].

Shows an elderly man (possibly Rangihaeata) seated in the centre of a group of four women, while one white-bearded man stands behind the group. In the right foreground is a spherical iron cooking pot. In the left background is a tree with forked base, showing a whare behind it. In the centre background is a cabbage tree, and there is a flax plant beside the group of women. In the distance is a hilly coastline, perhaps the Paekakariki coast.

The clothing of the group varies. One woman wears a dark layered feather cloak; another wears what appears to be a red blanket. The old woman wears a light-coloured cloak and a dress of patterned fabric.

Described in a list of Oliver paintings in the possession of Mr G.C.S. Oliver, as "Rangihera - Rangihaeta's wife. Flash of lightning. Old man, five women in front of hollow tree". The central figure has been interpreted as Te Rangihaeata, himself, shown with his characteristic albatross-feather ear adornments. Moko on his forehead is indicated and he holds a mere in his right hand. As there is no record of a wife of Rangihaeata's with the name Rangi-Hira (or Rangihaera or Rangiuira) it may be that Oliver was mistaken in his identification of the central figure as Rangihaeata's wife. Compare the Library's very similar group portrait, also by Oliver of Rangihaeata and family outside a whare (C-054-014). The latter view has fewer figures but several are clearly the same figures.

Certificate of verification, signed by Madeleine McClintock on 17 May 1985, on verso of backing board.

The scene is likely to have been painted in 1851, when Oliver was on his way towards Waikane and Otaki for the meeting with Rangihaeata depicted in Oliver's watercolour C-054-018 [A korero. Te Rangihaeata addresssing the Governor in Chief (Sir George Grey) at Waikanae [or Otaki] Sept 1851].

The identity of Rangi-Hira is uncertain. Compare with Isaac Coates' portrait of E Ranguera (a.k.a. Te Rongo), an earlier wife of Rangihaeata. Te Rongo was killed at Wairau in 1843, well before Oliver arrived in New Zealand. Another wife of chiefly status was Te Pikinga. The woman variously described by Oliver as 'Rangihera' and 'Rangihira', may be Rangihaeata's niece, Rangiuira of Kapiti Island, wife from 1847 to 1854 of David Brown, a farmer of Kapiti.

Tony Ireland (pers com. November 2007) has made a suggested indentification of the figures in the picture. He cites Waari Carkeek http://www.ngatitoa.iwi.nz/briefs, who cites the cursing song of Rangihaeata's sister Tope-Ora (Nga Moteatea number 280) which states that the second Tope-ora was a daughter of Rangihaeata. Tony Ireland therefore surmises that the picture shows, from left to right: Rangi Topeora I, her fourth husband Arapata Hauturu, Rangiuira's father Te Paea (standing), Rangihaeata (seated with white hair), the infant Tope-Ora II, Rangiuira Rakera Te Paea, and an unnamed woman reclining on the ground at the right. However a personal communication from Bernard Morgan, October 2009, disputes these identifications. Bernard Morgan, a descendant of Rangiuira te Paea, states that Rangiuira was never married to Rangihaeata. She was married to David Brown of Kapiti Island 1847-1854. The suggested identifications are speculatory and may be incorrect.

Other Titles - Te Rangiuira - Rangihaeta's wife... in front of hollow tree. Rangiheara. Rangihaeata.

Inscriptions: Verso - centre - Rangi heara; Verso - centre - Rangi-hira / Flash of Lightning [both bracketed to] Rangihaeta's wife

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour, 310 x 480 mm (sight).

Provenance: Passed down through the Oliver family to Mr G.C.S. Oliver of Rutland, England. Exhibited at New Zealand House, London for about 20 years, to the early 1980s. Inherited by G.C.S. Oliver's daughter, Mrs Madeleine McClintock of Sheffield, England, and then sold in about 1985, through the dealership of Brian Groshinski, to the Goodman Group.