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A tiny silver medal that represents one of the most significant early encounters between Maori and European goes on show at Auckland Museum today.
The museum and Te Papa Tongarewa teamed up to buy the Te Pahi medal for $300,000 at an auction in Australia last month.
It is the centerpiece of the Towards a Nation display commemorating the 200th anniversary of Samuel Marsden’s Christmas Sermon near Rangihoua Pa in the Bay of Islands.
Associate curator Nigel Borrell says the relationship between the northern chief Te Pahi and New South Wales Governor Phillip King, who gave him the medal at the end of a stay in 1806.
He says people will be struck by how small it is, but it leads to a larger story.
Nigel Borrell says the Te Pahi medal will remain on display until May.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NIGEL BORRELL CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjUwOTI=
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