Granny Nga by Phillip Waddington

Granny Nga, Nga Kahikatea Wirihana, by Phillip Waddington

Oil on canvas
Influences exhibition, Mitchell Studios 2019

$14,000 SOLD 2019

From the Waikato, Granny Nga was said to be the oldest person to have lived in New Zealand – possibly 127 years old. When I met her, she was living with her Great, Great Grandchildren. They didn’t speak Māori and she didn’t speak English. A Māori princess died in her arms and for that prestigious act she was adorned with her moko. Te Aho-te-Rangi Wharepu of Ngati Mahuta, the Chief in Goldie’s A Good Joke portrait, carved it for her.