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The JourneyFrom Auckland to the Far North; From Tauranga to Te Kaha; Maketu to Tongariro. Ruatahuna to Mohaka; Napier to Taupo and beyond. In our search for the korero (stories) behind the taonga, the ancestors, the remembered histories and Gilbert Mair himself - we were welcomed and supported with much aroha, by Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Awa, Whanau O Apanui, Whakatohea, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Whare, Ngati Manawa, Ngati Tarawhai, Ngati Pikiao, Tuhourangi, Ngati Te Rorooterangi, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Whatua, Ngapuhi and many more iwi, hapu and individual whanau along the way. Ko Tawa was a hikoi (journey) that took our team throughout the North Island of New Zealand for over 14 months. Led by Paora Tapsell – curator and Tumuaki at Tamaki Paenga Hira (Auckland Museum) – we ventured on a series of four major hikoi, and a number of smaller trips, to trace the descendants of the taonga which make up the Gilbert Mair Collection. To gain an insight into their understanding of Gilbert Mair, the period in which he lived, the taonga that he collected and what they could remember of their ancestors and the taonga themselves. It was also a first time opportunity to demonstrate to wider Maori – especially the descendants of taonga – the Museum’s commitment to upholding Maori Values, not least returning knowledge to those communities that have given so much in the past. Some of these descendant communities could remember intimate details of their taonga, and provided us with new perspectives on the Gilbert Mair collection that have proved invaluable. Other communities could remember only snapshots from this period in our shared history, yet provided us with reference points which enlightened the team. By sharing what each knew of the taonga, we reinvigorated their ancestral history as recorded by Gilbert Mair over 100 years ago. Throughout the journey we captured on film all of our korero with the Kuia, Kaumatua and whanau that we met. These film & image logs are the beginning of an oral and visual history archive that will be protected and cared for by the Auckland Museum for future generations, in particular the descendants of the taonga. Elements from these interviews and events have been transferred and edited into the film that screens as part of the exhibition - Echoes From Our Ancestral Landscapes - with elements also used in the composition of the album Te Whiri. The Ko Tawa publication (to be released by Batemans Press November 2005) photographically highlights the places and people visited and provides narratives of the taonga and ancestors behind the exhibition. And the Ko Tawa journey hasn't stopped. The Exhibition will be reopening at Tauranga Art Gallery, the last venue for the Tour, on 15 March 2008 and closing 11 May 2008. |
