Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
New Exhibition Ngā Heke Opens at Wellington Museum
MEDIA RELEASE
22.11.16
New Exhibition Ngā Heke Opens at Wellington Museum
Wellington Museum’s new exhibition Ngā Heke will open on Saturday 26 November. Ngā Heke is an experience that highlights the migrations and journeys of people and objects to Wellington through different perspectives in one unique and engaging space. Despite the earthquake that occurred on 14 November during the installation process the exhibition will still open on Saturday planned.
Whereas The Attic has a Steampunk Victorian theme, Ngā Heke has a more contemporary slant, with a rib-like structural design and a cleaner, almost pared-back modern gallery feel, with bold and strong graphics.
The space brings more Māori voices with new works by young contemporary Māori artists, writers and poets in the Mana Whenua section. The works stand alongside Te Whanganui a Tara, one of the most prized taonga Maori at Wellington Museum, the tukutuku and poupou panel by Rangi Hetet, the late Erenora Puketapu-Hetet and their whanau.
Tina Makereti, Māori Curator at Wellington Museum explains the concept of Ngā Heke;
Ngā Heke refers to the many migrations that have come to Wellington from many different areas, and there’s a physical meaning as well, which is the rafters of a traditional Wharenui which are called ‘Heke’ or ‘Ribs’ so when designing the space we were thinking about the reasonances of the rib-like structure, and how Nga Heke links all these different people into this area – and the many different journeys that people and objects take.”
Other objects on display each have their own story and connection to the Wellington region. From the Evergreen Coffee House sign to the effigy of Archibald Baxter, this collection reflects a social and cultural history of Wellington that’s fascinating, weird at times, but always engaging.
The exhibition also features alternate histories, where offer our visitors a choice of two different historical possibilities, and they can then decide and vote on which one they prefer.
Wellington Museum’s new exhibition Ngā Heke opens on November 26.
Gordon Campbell: On unemployment, Winston Peters’ low boiling point and music criticism
Labour Party: National Gaslights Women Fighting For Equal Pay
The Treasury: New Treasury Paper On The Productivity Slowdown
NZ Government: Government Recommits To Equal Pay
Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter: Deputy Mayor ‘disgusted’ By Response To Georgina Beyer Sculpture
Te Pāti Māori: Māori Unemployment Rate Increases By More Than Four-Times National Rates
Government: Streamlining Building Consent Changes
