The Star: March 28, 2024

The Star Thursday March 28 2024
10
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Record price paid for Goldie masterpiece
• By Daniel Alvey
A NEW RECORD was set for
the most expensive Charles
Goldie painting sold when six
went under the hammer on
Monday.
The paintings were owned by
the late Mainfreight co-founder
Neil Graham.
On the night, four of the
six paintings were sold at an
Art+Object
auction in
Auckland.
Te Ahoo-te-Rangi
Wharepu, A
Noted Waikato
Warrior fetched
$2.1 million
including the
buyer’s premium
and GST
Neil
Graham
making it the most expensive
Goldie painting ever sold.
The previous record of $1.8
million was set by a painting
sold at an auction in Sydney last
year.
The paintings were being sold
by Graham’s children Dean,
Greg and Tania.
“When I walked into the
gallery it sent shivers up my
spine and I got all teary-eyed
and it was quite emotional.
“It was very nerve-racking.
We’d never done anything like
TOP PRICE: Te Aho-o-te-Rangi Wharepu, A Noted Waikato Warrior (left) sold for $2.1
million including buyer interest and GST, breaking the previous record of $1.8 million. Lot
5: Kamariera Te Hau Takiri Wharepapa (right) is still unsold and is valued at $1-1.6 million.
that before. I’d never been
to an auction before in my
life,” Dean said.
Art+Object art director
Ben Plumbly said there
were about 50 people at
the auction house and
hundreds joined online.
“It’s not the easiest
market at the moment for
discretion spending and
presenting six paintings by the
same artist at the price level they
Dean
Graham
were was never going
to result in hundreds of
bidders.”
He said two of the
paintings were sold to
people in the auction
house and two were sold
to online bidders. All the
buyers were from New
Zealand.
“They’ve all gone to
New Zealand collectors and
they’ve all gone to genuine
collectors of the artist’s work.”
Two of the paintings remain
unsold with one currently under
negotiation.
Dean said the paintings had
been in storage due to none
of the family having a place
suitable for them.
“Now someone else can enjoy
them on their wall rather than
being hidden away, which is
not the right thing to do with
paintings like that, “ Dean said.
ON THE BLOCK
Lot 1: The Whitening
Snows of the Venerable
Elder: Atama Paparangi
valued at $600,000-
$900,000 is under
negotiation.
Lot 2: ‘Day Dreams’,
Nataria Rangimangeo
Mitchell (nee Haupapa)
– Te Arawa Tribe sold for
487,400.
Lot 3: Te Aho-o-te-Rangi
Wharepu, A Noted
Waikato Warrior sold for
$2.1 million.
Lot 4: A Midsummer’s
Day’, Maoriland: Pōkai – A
Warrior Chieftain of the
Ngāti Maru Tribe sold for
$913,875
Lot 5: Kamariera Te Hau
Takiri Wharepapa unsold
valued at $1-1.6 million.
Lot 6: Memories’: Hera
Puna (Widow of the Noted
Chief Hori Ngakapa) sold
for $609,250.
He said the family had no
expectations on what they were
going to sell for.
“We didn’t know what to
expect really.
“The market dictated how it
was going to go and we’re pretty
happy,” Dean said.
Dean said the money will help
him keep donating to charity.
Need a car park?
We’ve got you
covered.
New night rates!
Overnight parking to a max of $10.
Entry after 4pm, exit before 8am.
P
Tū Waka - Waipapa
550 Hagley Ave, Christchurch
open all day
casual rates: $6 per hour, max $24 per session