February 14, 2019
Iwi exhibitions give Te Papa unique edge
Te Papa Tongarewa has marked its 21st birthday with a ceremony to welcome its newest board member, Karen Rangi.
Kaihautu Arapata Hakiwai says given Ms Rangi's connection to Rarotonga, there were reminders of the museum's opening, when waka taua and voyaging canoes gathered for the event.
He says the character of the museum has been enhanced by its iwi exhibition programme, which has ensured Māori have been engaged with its work.
"I know of no other museum throughout the world which has anything quite like what we have to ensure there is partnership and Māori actively participate. It's a great opportunity for those two and a half or so years to work with the tribe and nor only present their histories and taonga to the world but also to actively assist them," he says.
As part of its current iwi exhibition, Te Papa is partnering with Rongowhakaata to run a Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga a-Iwi conference in Gisborne in March for people involved with iwi cultural centres, the preservation of iwi culture and built heritage, kaitiaki of taonga, and iwi development.
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