Saturday, August 8, 2009

Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei


This weekend marks the end of the three-year Mō Tātou exhibition about Ngāi Tahu at Te papa.

On sunday they have this


4pm–5pm
Ngāi Tahu historical films
A collection of fascinating archival footage about the Ngāi Tahu iwi. In association with the NZ Film Archive.
Soundings Theatre, Level 2

The films are:

•Across the Mountain Passes of New Zealand 1910
•Muttonbirding 1921
•The Sea Hath its Pearls 1927
•Maori Netting Whitebait at the Mouth of Opihi, Timaru 1925
•A Maori Catching Eels 1932
•Kaiapohia Pa Centenary 1931
•Mutton Birders 1951
•Eel History Is a Mystery 1960


If you are in Wellington go to Te Papa to support this event. Congratulations to all involved.

And this is what the exhibition was about

After two years of planning Ngāi Tahu stories and taonga were presented to the world to positive accolades at the ceremonial opening of Mō Tātou.

The taonga on display spans eight centuries of Ngāi Tahu history and experience and is being hailed as the most significant exhibition of South Island Māori art in decades.

The exhibition comprises four themes:

•Toitū te iwi – Culture
•Toitū te rangatiratanga – Tenacity
•Toitū te ao tūroa – Sustainability
•Toitū te pae tawhiti – Innovation

These are drawn from our whakataukī – "Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – For us and our children after us" – the guiding principle for the exhibition and are cultural characteristics expressing our ideals and practices from our beginnings through to today


I hope they can put it online or on permanent display somewhere. I saw the exhibition and i was mesmerised. I felt connected, proud and sad. I cried.

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