NZPhotographer, Issue 14, Dec 2018

Behind The Shot With
Te Rawhitiroa Bosch
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHY…
As a self-taught photographer growing up in beautiful
Whaingaroa, Aotearoa NZ, my love of photography stems
from a passion for capturing moments of connection.
Pūrākau – storytelling is for me one of the most
powerful connecting forces in the world. Through the
lens, I like to harness this force, this power of storytelling
to capture not only the subject but also the deeper
story, the magic, the heart, the emotion behind every
moment caught.
I’m passionate about Te Ao Māori and about
reclaiming our narratives and telling our own stories
so that the beauty, passion, talent, generosity, and
strength of our people is highlighted instead of the
negative and racial stereotypes that are so often
sensationalised and reinforced in the media. This
portrait is a perfect example of the beauty of our
people and of the world we want to carry on into the
future for our descendants.
WHO IS THE LADY IN THE PHOTOGRAPH?
This is my auntie: Kōkā Neria Mataira – Ngāti Porou
and Ngāti Kahungunu.
She is the epitome of beauty – inside and out –
and has dedicated her life to embodying her love
for our people, for our language and our culture
through awakening the gift of Te Reo Māori – the
Māori language within the hearts of many through
Te Ātaarangi, one of the foundational language
revitalisation initiatives that was established to bring
the Māori language back from the brink of extinction.
She proudly wears her moko kauae (traditional Māori
chin tattoo), another cultural treasure in renaissance.
It speaks to her grounding in Te Ao Māori – in our Māori
worldview, to her whakapapa – her genealogy, and
to the way she raises her children and grandchildren
in her loving, gentle and dignified way.
I captured her in the heart of Te Ihorangi, the meeting
house of Aratiatia Marae at Fairfield College in Hamilton
which was carved by Master Carver Kereti Rautangata.
WHY IS THIS PORTRAIT SO SPECIAL TO YOU –
ASIDE FROM IT BEING YOUR AUNTIE.
This portrait holds a special place in my heart because it
not only encapsulates Kōkā, but also the legacy left by
my Nan. Kōkā Neria teaches Māori language through
Te Ātaarangi, a methodology developed by her mother
(my Nan) Dame Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira and
Ngoingoi Pēwhairangi in the 70’s. This initiative has been
a part of my life since I was born. My Nan, my mother,
and my aunties were all teachers of Te Ātaarangi and
I’ve seen first-hand the life changing impact it’s had for
thousands of people over the years. This was reflected
in the many comments and messages posted by past
students in response to this photograph on my social
feeds, acknowledging and thanking Kōkā for the
identity affirming contribution she had made in their lives.
WAS THIS A PLANNED PORTRAIT SHOT?
This was literally a spur of the moment shot. We were
filming video resources for Poutiria Te Aroha – a
parenting with non-violence programme informed by
Māori concepts and designed for whanau Māori. The
Te Ātaarangi rākau methodology (the colourful rākau/
Cuisenaire rods in the foreground) is used to teach
core concepts of the programme.
We were about to take a break when I saw the
opportunity to capture her in her element. I lay low
on the ground to get the rākau in the foreground,
framed her in the centre of the designs on the back
wall of the wharenui meeting house and asked her to
look at me briefly, then I took the shot. It all happened
naturally and in a matter of seconds.
It was a real and special moment, not a posed portrait
and I feel that the realness is what people feel when
they see the image.
WHAT CAMERA EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I like a light kit so usually roll with one camera (Canon
5D MkIV) and 2 lenses (Canon EF 24–70mm f/.28 &
Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8 L II USM), but I’ve recently
picked up the Sigma Art Series 50mm f/1.4 lens which
is a dream for portraits!
I don’t really use flash or tripods, and I like to be free
of bags, straps, and slings. At a shoot I’ll have my
camera on a Spider holster on my right – my lenses on
the TriLens holster on my left – a spare battery and CF
card in my pocket, keeping me free and ready to get
the job done.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
www.facebook.com/RawhitiroaPhotography
www.instagram.com/rawhitiroa
www.rawhitiroa.com
December 2018
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