A copy of the painting was displayed outside of the Saligia Art Gallery before being stolen. A painting of a bare-breasted Māori leader, deemed offensive by local iwi, has been stolen from a Nelson art gallery. The symbolic artwork shows Nelson-born tribal leader, Huria Mātenga, draping a cloak in front of her naked, pierced breasts. Artist and Saligia Art Gallery co-owner Nikki Romney said the piece had provoked a lot of negative feedback on the gallery's website blog saying the picture should be taken down due to it being "offensive", "disgusting" and culturally insensitive. Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū assistant curator, Nathan Pohio said artists couldn't have "free rein" when it came to other people's culture.

Source: Stuff February 16, 2019 23:26 UTC