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An historic pataka is the centrepiece of an exhibition opening at Lower Hutt’s Dowse Art Museum this weekend looking at mana wahine.
Nuku: Symbols of Mana features the work of Maureen Lander, Octavia Cook, Tui Emma Gillies, Denise Batchelor, Erena Baker, Pauline Bern, Candice Stock, Areta Wilkinson and Joanna Langford.
Bridget Reweti from Ngati Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi put together the show while she was the 2014 Blumhardt/ Creative New Zealand Curatorial Intern.
She says the pataka Nuku Tewhatewha, which was commissioned by Te Atiawa rangatira Wi Tako in 1856 to show support for the emerging Koahitanga movement, is a powerful symbol of the wish of Maori to govern themselves.
" And on the kuwaha on the entrance there is a woman breastfeeding. I really like that because it is unusual for pataka to have that and I think it resonates those Maori ideas of how important women are in our society and also the importance of Papatuanuku as well she says ".
Nuku: Symbols of Mana opens on Saturday and runs until May.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BRIDGET REWETI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjYxOTQ=
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