This is one of McCahon's major works of the mid-1970s, along with the Urewera Mural, the Blind series, and the Parihaka Triptych. It has several motivations and triggers. The primary one is the shining cuckoo's song, spoken of in a Maori poem passed…
Lower right (l.r.) in pencil: Working drawing for Stations of the Cross. Hotere; l.c. in ballpoint pen: Jeffrey Harris, 9 Cashmere View Rd, Christchurch; through image: [numerals & colour notes].