FLAWLESS

WORDS & IMAGES MATT MORTIMER // IMAGES SUPPLIED

(ADJECTIVE)

1. HAVING NO DEFECTS OR FAULTS, ESPECIALLY NONE THAT DIMINISH THE VALUE OF SOMETHING;

2. HAVING NO DISCERNIBLE BLEMISHES OR SHORTCOMINGS

After yarning with a few mates over a cold one or three, it seems we all wanted one of what we coined the ‘Big Three’ skills. We either wanted to be able to run fast, sing great or be able to draw stuff real good. Clearly this wasn’t a particularly noble or scientific survey of aspirational abilities – we left our neurosurgery and environmental research – but we did try and keep it vaguely grounded in reality – so invisibility and x-ray vision were deemed inapplicable early on.

There are quite a few among us that can put on a turn of speed when the need arises, and we’re all Stan Walker around the house, but drawing – well, it’s hard to fake that one. Especially when you are doing it as a mural, on the side of a three-metre wall. But as far as that side of things goes, Taupō’s Tāne Lawless has it well and truly covered.

Founder of the Flawless Clothing Company and design firm Poutama Prints as well as being an acclaimed mural artist, the man is flawless by name and flawless by nature. “I grew up in Taupō and when I was younger I developed a love of the New York bombing (graffiti) scene,” he says. “I’d always loved painting since primary school, and I spent a lot of my younger years mucking around with ideas, working on my own stuff, just putting heaps of designs on to paper.”

This New York art influence is just one elements of Tāne’s artwork, with intricate Māori design intertwined with his own kiwi flavour, all of which relates back to his passion for conservation and in particular the monitoring of the karearea, or New Zealand falcon.

The infinitely intelligent among you will recall back in Plenty 12 that we covered some great work being done by the team at Wingspan in Rotorua; this charitable trust has been going for decades, helping to care for our native birds of prey, some of which are actually more in danger of extinction than the venerable kiwi.

The karearea can lay their eggs on the ground, so once I hear about eggs it’s a rush to get there to keep them away from predators and give them the very best chance of survival.”

Tāne Lawless on making murals and saving our birds.

Image Matt Mortimer

Tāne has some similar responsibilities in the Taupō district, watching out for the falcon here for the Wingspan crew and also working to raise awareness of its plight.

“I try to live off the land as much as possible: living the traditional way, eating wild meat and wild plants, breathing that fresh air and freeing the mind of the concrete jungles we live in these days. And knowing where our food comes from and choosing what to take is important. There’s a lot of restrictions in life, and living off the lands is our only freedom, and great for our kids.

I try to live off the land as much as possible: living the traditional way, eating wild meat and wild plants, breathing that fresh air and freeing the mind of the concrete jungles we live in these days.

It’s one of few traditional things we have left where we can connect with nature. So I’m a hunter, and the karearea is a hunter too – so in some ways it’s about just helping out a mate, a fellow hunter.”

“It’s pleasing to know that awareness of these birds is increasing – I’m getting forestry managers calling me with sightings and new nests on their sites. The karearea can lay their eggs on the ground, so once I hear about eggs it’s a rush to get there to keep them away from predators and give them the very best chance of survival. There’s so much to do in being responsible for our environment, and these birds are one part of that bigger picture. All animals – including us – take from our environment, and I’m about keeping a balance, and respecting our part within that kaitiaki or guardianship of the land, not just in our rohe, but throughout the whole country.”

ROHE (NOUN)

TO DESCRIBE A TERRITORY OR BOUNDARIES OF IWI (TRIBES), ALTHOUGH SOME ROHE ARE DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL TAKIWĀ.

Growing up in Taupō, Tāne has honed and developed the skills of kaitiaki as well as working on his obvious gifts in regard to art. While it’s easy for a lot of us to dream about what we’d like to do and where we’d like to be, Tāne is a shining light for someone just going after it. He gained some national recognition with a mural of All Black legend Richie McCaw that he created for the 2015 Graffiato festival in Taupō, but he still has his day job as a full time mechanic. That makes it all the more remarkable that he finds time to persue his passion on such a scale outside of office hours.

“I first got involved in Graffiato in 2012 because it was a local event in Taupō. It wasn’t easy juggling a full time job with being an artist, doing murals, designing and my screenprinting business, as well as having the Flawless Clothing Company in the background. When you get into it, it flows well, but yeah it means being very busy, and my main priority always comes first, making the best times with my family.”

Tāne co-sponsors events in Taupō like Jedi J@m freestyle BMX gig, as well as having a branding deal with a Rotorua based stock-car with the Flawless brand, so don’t be surprised if you see his name around. We’ve got a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more of Tāne Lawless.

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