Ngäi Tahu Whänui Exhibition Closing This Weekend

4 August 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Mö Tatou - The Ngäi Tahu Whänui Exhibition Closing This Weekend

Mō Tātou - The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri, ā muri ake nei. For us and our children after us.

Te Papa bids farewell to the Ngäi Tahu Whänui exhibition with a weekend of fantastic events celebrating the iwi and culture of Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island) on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July.

Te Papa’s Acting Chief Executive and Kaihautü, Ms Michelle Hippolite said, ‘We have been privileged to work closely with Ngāi Tahu to enhance our respective cultural interests and to present Mö Tätou to New Zealanders and international visitors. We also thank them for their participation in and support of exhibition-related events, and contribution to events such as the annual Matariki Festival. We hope that Ngäi Tahu continue to consider Te Papa ‘their place’.’

‘Te Papa has been like a second home for Ngāi Tahu – it has kept our taonga safe and welcomed us to participate in many significant events over the past three years,’ says Ngäi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere, Mark Solomon. ‘We are grateful to have been able to share our vision, stories and culture with so many visitors to Te Papa.’

‘We also acknowledge mana whenua Te Atiawa and Ngāti Toa who have also been very supportive.’

Ngāi Tahu will continue to nurture its relationship with Te Papa. ‘We would like to thank Te Papa and its staff for the support and manaakitanga that Ngāi Tahu has received over the time our exhibition has been on display.’

The Mō Tātou - The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition tells the story of the distinct and dynamic culture of the South Island's Ngāi Tahu people and opened on Saturday 8 July 2006 at Te Papa. Developed in partnership with Ngāi Tahu, the exhibition celebrates the 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.

Underpinning the exhibition are four cultural values drawn from the tribal saying, ‘Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei. For us and our children after us’. These principles of Toitū te iwi (Culture); Toitū te rangatiratanga (Tenacity); Toitū te aō tūroa (Sustainability), and Toitū te pae tawhiti (Innovation) reflect the contemporary understanding of their past and future. From the whānui’s creation story to their most important taonga (treasures), to their representation on the world art stage, Mō Tātou presents the journey of the Ngāi Tahu Whānui who have survived and progressed from near-decimation to tribal autonomy and self-reliance.

For the duration of the exhibition, Ngāi Tahu kaumātua (elders), Kukupa Tirikatene, Maruhaeremuri Stirling and Te Whe Philips, were in residence at Te Papa and undertook to share the iwi’s tikanga (customs and traditions) within Te Papa and on Te Papa’s marae. Mō Tātou will tour South Island museums from 20 February 2010 in Canterbury Museum.

Mō Tātou - The Ngāi Tahu Whānui Exhibition will be formally closed by the Ngäi Tahu iwi on Sunday 9 July at 6.30pm with a pöwhiri and a ceremonial closing. Media are welcome to attend.

Mō Tātou will tour South Island museums starting on 20 February 2010 at Canterbury Museum.
ENDS

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