The Tommy Solomon statue on Rēkohu - Chatham Islands. Photo: Supplied
Work to restore the statue of the man widely regarded as the last known full-blooded Moriori has begun on Rēkohu - Chatham Islands.
The statue of Tame Horomona-Rehe - known as Tommy Solomon - had degraded after standing near Manukau Point for nearly 40 years.
Spokesperson Tāne Solomon said the statue commemorated a respected ancestor and honoured more than 800 years of Moriori presence in the region.
Tommy Solomon was born in 1884 and was the only surviving child of Rangitapua Horomona Rehe and Ihimaera Te Teira of the Ōwenga and Ōtonga Moriori tribes.
He was known for his large physical stature, warm humour, and deep commitment to his community, Tāne Solomon said.
His first wife Ada Fowler, (Ngāi Tahu) died and he had five children with his second wife, Ada's niece Whakarawa (Rene) Fowler: Charles Te Teira, Thomas Tūtānekai, Ngāmare, Eric Rangitapua, and Flora.
Tommy Solomon died in 1933, aged 49, and was buried at Manukau.
The statue was unveiled by Prime Minister David Lange in 1986.
Tāne Solomon said the statue was significant in the revival of Moriori culture and identity.
"It is also a tribute to all Moriori, a symbol of Moriori resilience showing that we are still here and that will never change," he said. "To work on the statue replacement is a duty and also an honour - we owe this to all of our karapuna (ancestors)."
The restoration committee was in the process of selecting a sculptor to undertake the restoration project. It aimed to have the work finished by the 40th anniversary of the unveiling in December next year.
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