Local artist seeks recognition

A local artist has expressed concern that a design he created 10 years ago for a specific purpose, was recently used for another purpose of which he was unaware and it highlights the need for some law or rules to govern the use of artist’s creations and protect their intellectual property.
During the September visit of the New Zealand Maori King, Kingi Tuheitia Te Rangi, to the departure point of the Seven Canoes, in Avana, a story board was unveiled.
What was not declared at the time, was the name of the local artist who created the designs featured in the centre of the board which depicts the story of the Seven Canoes sailing to Aotearoa.
The local artist who created the designs was Nganga Enua who says they were used without his knowledge or consent.
The Times spoke with Enua on Thursday.
He said the story board which has stood on the coastal area of Avana, since it was first unveiled during the New Zealand Maori King’s visit, has become a painful reminder to the craftsman. According to Enua, the two designs which have been used to depict the 7 canoes journey to Aotearoa on the story board, were originally designed in 1999 for the first sunrise of the new Millennium.
In 1999, Mr Enua was asked by Motu Kora Mokare Mataiapo of Takitumu to prepare traditional designs, to depict the first sunrise of the Millennium. The designs were then put onto a coin as a gift, for the elderly people on the island. On one side of the coin, the designs depict the three villages which make up the Vaka of Takitumu. On the coin’s other side, it depicts the first sunrise of the new Millennium.
It was also Motu Kora Mokare Mataiapo of Takitumu who arranged for the story board to be made on behalf of the people of Takitumu. Mokare Mataiapo used Enua’s designs on the story board, as Enua had given the designs, to the village, during the creation of the Millennium coin. The Board was of Tamanu wood from Pa Ariki’s property
Enua said he was at Avana on the day the Maori King was hosted and the story board unveiled. He said he received no public acknowledgement for his design.
Enua said at the time he agreed to design the coin, he was not paid and no papers were signed stipulating any conditions or restrictions on future use of the design. In hindsight he thinks he should have set some conditions on the future use of the design. He said he would be happy to receive some acknowledgement for his creation.
He can at least have the satisfaction of knowing his design will be seen by thousands of tourists from here on.
What Legislation is there, to protect the intellectual property rights and copy rights for our traditional crafts people?

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