Vehicle access: Our vehicle entrance will be reduced to one lane from 25 July until the end of November 2022, due to the construction of a new set of traffic lights outside Te Papa. Info about vehicle access to Te Papa 25 Jul – Nov 2022
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: Kaitohutohu Kōiwi Tangata (Acting-Head of 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.
