Eric Tamepo

Tu Tangata, Issue 13, 1 August 1983, Page 17

Eric Tamepo

Eric Tamepo works as executive officer with the Council for Maori and South Pacific Arts and has recently moved to Wellington to this position.

His task is to provide executive and advisory services to MASPAC and provide guidence and advice on cultural matters to Maori and Pacific organisations.

Eric Tamepo was born at Te Aroroa, north of Tokomaru Bay, attending Te Puia Springs primary school, and secondary school at Dannevirke and Hastings.

He joined the Forest Service and continued to work-in forestry in both Government and private organisations.

In Kaiangaroa in the 60’s he helped form the first Maori Committee which dealt with social welfare and was also a member of the South Tuhoe Maori Executive Committee during this period.

On moving to Wairarapa Eric continued his work in the Maori community and was chairman for five years of the Kahungunu ki Wairarapa cultural group. He composes waiata and haka.

Before taking up his present position, Mr Tamepo was a member of the Maori Committee of Masterton and spoke on the Te Oreore Marae.

While he continues to support traditional Maori art he has a particular interest in helping artists who are interpreting Maori art in a contemporary way. He believes that through such work, when it is carried out within a Maori context with traditional Maori spirit, Maori art will continue to progress.