Almost 21,000 visitors visited Te Papa over Labour weekend to celebrate the opening of the museum’s newest exhibition Tangata o le Moana: The Story of Pacific People in New Zealand, the highest visitation over a Labour weekend period since 2001.
A vibrant events programme, supported by New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), kept the crowds entertained over the three days. Events featured during the weekend included a craft fair, Pacific film festival, hula and ukulele workshops and a variety of music and dance performances from artists such as King Kapisi, Wellington-based Legacy Dance crew, Pos Mavaega’s 25-piece guitar orchestra piece Island Summer and the award-winning hip-hop band Nesian Mystic.
'Tangata o le Moana’s opening event programme was a wonderful celebration of New Zealand’s cultural diversity and NZCT is proud to continue to support this exhibition, said NZCT chief executive, Mr Mike Knell.
Artist Ani O’Neill and a team of students decorated the museum with Pacific adornments and lectures by artist Michel Tuffery and Te Papa Pacific Culture curators and collection managers provided further insight on the exhibition.
Tangata o le Moana: The Story of Pacific People in New Zealand will be on display until 2012 on Level 4, Te Papa. The exhibition tells the story of Pacific people, past and present, the contributions they have made to New Zealand and the impact New Zealand has had upon them and their cultures. Entry is free.
For further information and images, contact:
Jane Keig, Manager Communications, 029 601 0180, 04 381 7083, janek@tepapa.govt.nz; or
Paul Brewer, Director Marketing & Communications, 021 532 920, 04 381 7023, paulb@tepapa.govt.nz