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September 01, 2025
Call to Recognise He Whakaputanga as Taonga at MOTAT Exhibition Launch
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On September 1, 2025
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Toitū Te Tiriti’s Eru Kapa-Kingi calls for He Whakaputanga to be recognised as a taonga of national significance, as MOTAT opens its new exhibition on Māori print history.
Toitū Te Tiriti spokesperson Eru Kapa-Kingi is calling for the return of He Whakaputanga—the 1835 Declaration of Independence—as a taonga of national significance.
His comments come as MOTAT opens its new exhibition Tō Ao ki Tōku Ao – A Meeting of Two Worlds, showcasing early printed reo Māori material, including a rare 1837 edition of He Whakaputanga alongside Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Kapa Kingi says He Whakaputanga affirms Māori sovereignty and must be recognised in constitutional discussions.
Filmmaker Heperi Mita adds a cinematic lens to the kaupapa, exploring the fusion of oral tradition and print technology.
The exhibition runs until 1 February 2026.
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