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About 20 of the weavers involved in creating tukutuku panels for the New Zealand wall at the United Nations headquarters have headed to New York to see them unveiled.
They will be joined for Thursday's ceremony by Maori Deveopment Minister Te Ururoa Flavell and his predecessor Pita Sharples.
Mr Flavell says the panels, which have been on display at Te Papa, are an artistic triumph.
He says the project has evolved since Dr Sharples instigated it five years ago,
": Twenty or so of these panels will stay on the New Zealand walls in the United Nations. Three of those panels will go to the New Zealand residence which will be Jim Mclay who is taking up the role on behalf of New Zelaand on the Security Council. So it is pretty high profile.The remaining one will be in the office of the Minister for Maori Development in the future. It was a decision that was made to try and make sure that we have that 3 way link with the United Nations with our own sort of embassey in the US, particular in New York " he says.
Te Ururoa Flavell says the trip also has a strong trade component, as he tries to open doors for Maori business.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjU5ODA=
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