April 26, 2024
Digital cover-up for tiriti protest wall
Te Papa Tongarewa has replaced its damaged Treaty of Waitangi display with a temporary digital projection while it develops a permanent replacement.
A wooden panel showing the English text of the treaty was spraypainted and gouged by protest groups Aotearoa Liberation League and Te Waka Hourua in December who objected to it being described as a translation or having equal status to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The museum’s Māori co-leader, Arapata Hakiwai, says the replacement piece will encompass this new history.
“We want to continue that because it’s important for all of us with regards to who we are as a nation. So we look forward to really working in with our communities with our Tiriti experts and mana whenua to develop the permanent exhibition,” he says.
There has been no decision made yet about the future of the vandalised piece or when the new display will be finished.