Work is underway on Rēkohu/Chatham Islands to replace the statue of the man widely regarded as the last full-blooded Moriori after the monument fell into disrepair four decades on from its unveiling.
The statue of Tommy Solomon, or Tame Horomana Rehe, who died in 1933, was first revealed to the community in 1986.
The ceremony, attended by then Prime Minister David Lange, commanded national attention and was a defining moment for Moriori identity and cultural revival.
Lange delivered a speech at the unveiling acknowledging the atrocities Moriori had been subject to.
"Moriori were not a myth. They were, in these islands, a real people. We cannot make them live again, but we can tell the truth about who they were and what happened to them," he said.
"We cannot change what happened in the past. All our grief and loss will not bring Moriori people back. All we can do is say honestly what happened in the past, so that our actions in the present are not guided by falsehood but by truth."
Rana Solomon, great-granddaughter of Tommy, remembered the day vividly and said it felt like the whole island attended.
"It was huge. All the way through Owenga you could see the dust coming up from the road, they just kept coming and coming."
Tommy's grandson, Maui Solomon, was also present in 1986 and was the chairperson of the group responsible for establishing the statue.
"He was a universally respected and loved person here on the island," he said.
"That had something to do with his status as the so called last Moriori, but it was also the type of person he was in real life."
Other than being known as the last full-blooded Moriori on the island, Maui said his grandfather was very popular. During the Great Depression years, he was known to take homemade sausages around to the community.
"The ones who knew him always described his as a kind, generous, happy go lucky person. He called square dancing, he was good on the pistol shot, a good raconteur, there were many stories about him at the house hosting parties."
The original statue, made from ciment fondu, was intended as a symbol for all Moriori.
For the Solomon whānau, it represented the strength and resilience of their people.
"For us, the rē, the language and our culture weren’t dead. We knew nothing else except that we were Moriori. It was significant for all Moriori," said Rana Solomon.
"We always identified with Tommy Solomon. It was the beginning of our Moriori renaissance."
Decades facing the harsh coastal elements had taken their toll, with the statue deteriorating beyond repair.
"You can see spots of rust coming through," Rana Solomon said.
"He lost his head on a stormy night."
The monument had been wrapped for safety and was set to be buried on the site in a ceremony next year.
The Statue Restoration Trust was planning a replacement identical to the original, but cast in bronze to ensure longevity.
Maui Solomon said the decision was bittersweet.
“I felt sad in one way. I loved that old statue. I still do. It’s got mana. It’s got history of its own. But I have no doubt it will be successful, hopefully it will stand for 400 years,” he said.
The trust hoped the unveiling of the new statue will act as reunion for Moriori from across the world, and hoped to have it in place by late 2026 for the 40th anniversary of the original statue.
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