Rei Paul Francis Hamon

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Māhaki

1919 - 2008

Hamon spoke about his spiritual origins in Gisborne and in the mid 1920s, he moved with his family to Te Karaka and later to Ahirau Station. He was educated at Te Karaka Primary School; he left school at the age of thirteen. He travelled to the Ureweras where he worked on a number of post splitter gangs before returning to work in Gisborne. He married Maia Pohoiwi and they raised twenty-seven children, some fostered and some their own. In 1966 Hamon had his first art exhibition at the New Vision Gallery in Auckland. He has fought with others to save the 400 kauri in the Manaia kauri reserve. He rediscovered the huge kauri which is now named the Rei Hamon kauri. His education in the art world was the beauty of nature and aroha of his great grandmother Horiana Te Kainga Hou and his mother Edith Hamon Osborne. His paintings have been sold nationally and internationally. Today his art is in Russia, Japan and with English royalty. Hamon was commissioned to paint Mount Hikurangi for the Millennium celebrations and was awarded the CBE in 1981. One of his lithographs, Jewels of Okarito, was given by the New Zealand government to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1976 royal tour.

Biographical sources

  • Phone conversation with Rei Hamon 19 June and 7 August, 1998.
  • Rei Hamon: Artist of the New Zealand Bush: His Life and His Drawings. Auckland, N.Z.: Collins, 1971.

    Non-fiction

  • Rei Hamon: Artist of the New Zealand Bush: His Life and His Drawings. Auckland, N.Z.: Collins, 1971.
  • Hamon writes an autobiographical account of his childhood years in the 1920s, his work in the Ureweras as a bushman, and his vision of life in the Depression years. He discusses the problems facing contemporary youth and he discusses parenting skills, his faith, his back injuries and his emerging drawing skills. Seventeen of Hamon’s drawings are reproduced in the book. Kees Hos provides an introduction.
  • Rei Hamon: Artist of the New Zealand Bush: Second Collection. Auckland, N.Z.: Collins, 1976.
  • Hamon provides background notes to the twenty drawings reproduced in this publication. T. J. McNamara writes the introduction.
  • The Art of Rei Hamon. Introduction by John Morton. Auckland, N.Z.: Collins, 1980.
  • In this huge publication, Hamon provides descriptive texts for his twenty-two reproduced drawings. The themes of his work include the destruction of the native forests and his hope for regeneration. His work also portrays the landscape around Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula, and gives detailed studies of trees, leaves, native flowers, rock formations, waterfalls, and spider webs. He describes in detail his picture entitled Jewel of Okarito, his hundredth drawing which was subsequently given to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of her accession to the throne.

    • Poetry

  • "Faith." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag.
  • The speaker acknowledges that through his "tortuous trail", the faith of mothers has been a sustaining force in directing his thoughts to God.
  • "Baby Caroline." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • A celebration of the birth of Caroline.
  • "The Pearl." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet takes pleasure in the sparkle of a dewdrop.
  • "Kauaeranga." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet revels in the natural beauty of the rain forest at Kauaeranga Park.
  • "The Shrine." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • A tribute to the mighty kauri trees, the songs of the bellbird and dove and a prayer that "these Jewels will never cease."
  • "Hauraki." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet writes of the views of the sea, bush and birds at Hauraki.
  • "Wisdom." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • Despite the felling of the giant kauri trees, the poet acknowledges that the wood will continue to live on.
  • "Immortal Towers." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet mourns the burning of the Totara forests and ponders on the destructive nature of humankind.
  • "Lost Heritage." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet bewails the meaningless destruction of the great native forests.
  • "Jewels of Kakatarahae." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet writes of a vision from God at Kakatarahae.
  • "Breeze." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] . n.pag
  • A description of the movement of wind blowing across the waters, clouds, and forests.
  • "The Trees." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet writes of the joy he derives from the native forests and his passion to stop their destruction.
  • "Mother." .” Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • The poet acknowledges the enduring influence of his mother.
  • "Memories." Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972] n.pag
  • Sensing the call of his Māori tipuna, the poet goes to the kauri forests and feels at peace.
  • Oku Mahara/My Thoughts. [Thames, N.Z.]: Thames Star, [1972]
  • In this slim publication of fourteen poems, Hamon celebrates his love of the natural world and gives thanks to God for its beauty. He also writes of his dismay at the senseless destruction of the forests. His poems have a hymn-like quality, with Hamon writing of the elevating capacity of the forests and birds to lift his thoughts to the Creator God.

    • Sound recordings

  • The Pa, the President and the Prophet, and, Man of the bush. Wellington, N.Z.: Radio New Zealand Replay Radio [198-?] Alwyn Owen talks to Rei Hamon.

    Other

  • "Rei Hamon: Amazement and Wonder." Te Māori (1979): 7.
  • Oman, Richard G. "Rei Hamon." Ensign Oct. 1979. http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=df2e615b01a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 20 Aug. 2010.
  • "Francis Rei Paul Hamon: Hamon Surprised by Artistic Success." The Dominion Post 21 Aug. 2008. http://www.webcitation.org/5g2iqF0kM 20 Aug. 2010.
  • Sharples, Dr Pita. "Poroporoaki: Rei Hamon." 20 Aug. 2008. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00292.htm 20 Aug. 2010.
  • "Artist Rei Hamon dies at 89." TVNZ News 17 Aug. 2008. http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2010689/423466.html 20 Aug. 2010.
  • Kitchin, Peter. "Love of Nature Kindles Art." Press 30 Aug. 2008: D16.