Te Herekiekie Haerehuka Herewini is of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Whanganui, Ngā Puhi, and Ngāti Porou descent. He was raised in Rātana pā before his whānau
whānaufamilyMāori | Noun moved to Wellington in the 1970s.
Te Herekiekie began his current role in October 2007. His work includes:
strengthening the research capability of the repatriation programme
providing education materials to inform communities and institutions about the history, trade, and collection of kōiwi tangata Māori kōiwi tangata MāoriMāori skeletal remainsMāori | Noun, kōimi tangata kōimi tangataMoriori skeletal remainsMoriori | Noun andtoi moko toi mokotattooed preserved headsMāori | Noun
actively reuniting tūpuna
tūpunaancestorsMāori | Noun with their whānau
whānaufamilyMāori | Noun, hapū
hapūsubtribeMāori | Noun, and iwi
iwitribeMāori | noun
consulting with iwi to find appropriate final resting places for kōiwi tangata Māori with unclear iwi or regional provenance
Te Herekiekie has a Master of Arts (Honours) in Māori Studies from the University of Auckland.
Position: Pou Rangahau Rautaki Kōiwi (Repatriation Researcher)
Susan has returned to Te Papa on a fixed term research contract after an 11-year absence, after starting with Karanga Aotearoa as a senior researcher in 2004. She is an archaeologist with special interests in landscape archaeology and indigenous methodologies. Susan also currently works at Hokotehi Moriori Trust as a cultural project manager and resides on Rēkohu (Chatham Islands).
Position: Pou Rangahau Rautaki Kōiwi (Repatriation Researcher)
Amber is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato, and Ngāi Tahu descent. She was born and raised in the Hutt Valley, Wellington.
Amber has a strong background in New Zealand archaeology and anthropology. Her previous experience, knowledge, and exisitng relationships with iwi
iwitribesMāori | Nounand hapū
hapūsubtribeMāori | Nounthroughout the country are assets to the repatriation programme.
Amber joined the repatriation team in 2008. Her work includes:
producing research about the history of the trade of toi moko toi mokotattooed preserved headsMāori | Noun andkōiwi tangata Māori kōiwi tangata MāoriMāori skeletal remainsMāori | Noun
presenting her research (and the repatriation programme’s history and activities) at national and international forum
actively reuniting tūpuna
tūpunaancestorsMāori | Noun with their whānau
whānaufamilyMāori | Noun, hapū
hapūsubtribeMāori | Noun, and iwi
iwitribeMāori | Noun
developing and maintaining relationships with international institutions
connecting with other indigenous communities involved in repatriation to exchange information, support, and experiences
being part of an international repatriation research project.
Amber has a passion for research, especially relating to Māori history and material culture. She also has an interest in the wider Pacific.
Amber gained a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Religious Studies from Victoria University, and a Master of Arts in Archaeology from the University of Auckland. In 2019 she gained a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) with Victoria University, focusing on Māori perspectives on repatriation.
Te Arikirangi is of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Ngāti Makino, Ngāpuhi, and Te Arawa descent. He was born and raised in the small township of Te Teko, Bay of Plenty.
Te Arikirangi has a strong background in tikanga
tikangacultural practicesMāori | Noun Māori, te reo Māori
te reo MāoriMāori languageMāori | Noun, kapa haka
kapa hakacultural performing artsMāori | Noun, mau rakau mau rakauMāori martial artsMāori | Noun and waka
wakatraditional canoeing and ocean voyagingMāori | Noun. He spent three years as a dancer for the Kahurangi Māori Dance Company, touring North America before returning to Wellington where he worked for a period of time with Toi Māori Aotearoa (Māori Arts New Zealand).
Before taking on his role with the repatriation programme, Te Arikirangi worked for Shell Oil NZ Ltd as a trainer, a subject matter expert, and customer service professional. He has a strong interest in the visual arts, history, tikanga Māori, and foreign languages.
In 2012, Te Arikirangi carried out a one-year secondment to Te Papa’s Experience Directorate as a Producer. While there, he produced a wide range of events and activities with organisations and groups such as the Royal Society of New Zealand, Māori Language Commission, Media Design School, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, and Royal New Zealand Ballet. His most significant project has been the planning and delivery of the public events programme for Te Papa’s five-month exhibition Game Masters.
