Te Papa develops and maintains a broad range of relationships with iwi and Māori organisations, involving diverse levels of activity and input from both iwi and the Museum.
Iwi Exhibition Programme
The Iwi Exhibition Programme was established to lead the development of active partnerships between iwi (tribal groups) and Te Papa. It is the most visible demonstration of iwi participation at Te Papa and an important expression of the mana taonga concept that underpins Te Papa’s guardianship of taonga Māori (Māori cultural treasures).
The Iwi Exhibition Programme offers a unique opportunity for iwi to tell the stories of significance to them within a national forum. It provides an opportunity to work in partnership with Te Papa to present taonga, art, and narratives from their iwi rohe (tribal region). These may also come from within iwi collections at Te Papa or other New Zealand museums.
> Past iwi exhibitions
Mō Tātou – The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri, ā murī ake nei
For us and our children after us
Mō Tātou – The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition was officially opened at a dawn ceremony on 8 July 2006. More than 2000 Ngāi Tahu representatives and whānau travelled from all over New Zealand to be welcomed on to Te Papa’s marae.
Developed in partnership with Ngāi Tahu over eighteen months, the exhibition celebrates the iwi’s past and present and invites visitors to learn about Ngāi Tahu values, and share their vision for the future, through taonga (treasures), photographs, audiovisual displays, and art.
Te Papa’s Chief Executive Dr Seddon Bennington said, ‘We have enjoyed working closely with Ngāi Tahu to bring their stories and taonga to Te Papa. We warmly welcome the whānau from Te Wai Pounamu [the South Island], and look forward to further opportunities to learn and work together through this magnificent exhibition.’
For the duration of the exhibition Ngāi Tahu kaumātua (elders) Kukupa Tirikatene and Te Whe Philips will be in residence at Te Papa to undertake ceremonial duties on Te Papa’s marae.
Find out more about Mō Tātou – The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition.
Te Papa Education | Te Ipu Kāhuirangi
Te Papa Education | Te Ipu Kahuirangi offers various education programmes developed specifically for Māori education providers such as kura kaupapa Māori, kohanga reo, and wānanga. These include programmes that support changing exhibitions such as the iwi exhibition in Mana Whenua and event programmes like Matariki. In addition, education resources in te reo Māori are in development and will be made available to schools throughout New Zealand.
ETIK also liaises regularly with Māori education providers in the Wellington region, strengthening and maintaining relationships through kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) visits and hui (meetings).