In 1947, Māori leader, politician, and scholar Apirana Ngata spoke to his scholarly peers at the Polynesian Society, announcing his greatest desire to revive Māori culture as a living force within communities, not be relegated to dead exhibits in museums (Ramsden 1948, 85).

This lecture acknowledges the concerns of visionary leaders and champions of cultural practice and their activation within museums.

Through her work as a Māori curator, writer, cultural practitioner and post-doctoral researcher, Awhina Tamarapa advocates for cultural restoration as a form of liberation in a museum context. In her research, Tamarapa is exploring strategies for the recovery and reclamation of taonga puoro and karetao for new generations.

There are challenges regarding taonga held by overseas museums. Concepts such as keeping taonga warm, and mana taonga, recognise the connection and authority of descendants to their taonga, which underpin this work.

The focus on the reclamation of Indigenous practice has been bolstered by working with First Nations, Canada BC. Led by Professor Bryony Onciul, University of Exeter, UK, Tamarapa was privileged to be part of a research project, “The Future of Indigenous Rights and Responsibilities: Ancestral governance, environmental stewardship, language revival, and cultural vibrancy” funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK.

Dr Awhina Tamarapa

Dr Awhina Tamarapa (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruanui) is a Māori curator, researcher and writer. She is a specialist in taonga Māori exhibitions, collections research, and a broad range of cultural practices. She has degrees in Anthropology, Māori Laws and Philosophy, Museum and Heritage Studies.

Awhina is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow based at the Stout Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. She is also working with communities on indigenous research projects led by Professor Bryony Onciul, University of Exeter, UK, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK.

She is a former Te Papa Curator Māori, and Teaching Fellow for the Museum and Heritage Studies programme, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka.

Watch the recorded livestream

Michael Volkerling Memorial Lecture

Dr Volkerling was the founding Director of the Museum and Heritage Studies programme at Victoria University, an Executive Director of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Director of the Arts Council (now Creative New Zealand). He made a huge contribution to the arts, culture, and heritage in New Zealand over a 30-year period.

This lecture series is run in partnership between National Services Te Paerangi, Te Papa, and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.