Ground breaking new exhibition to open at Auckland Museum

Ground breaking new exhibition to open at Auckland Museum
Te Paki o Matariki: 160 Years of Kiingitanga

For immediate release
Wednesday 3 October 2018

Te Paki o Matariki: 160 Years of Kiingitanga, is a ground-breaking exhibition featuring a selection of taonga from the royal collection of Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, the present Maaori king. On display in Māori Court at Auckland War Memorial Museum from Sunday 28 October, this partnership exhibition with the Kiingitanga marks the 160th anniversary of the movement.

One of New Zealand’s most enduring political and Māori institutions, the Kiingitanga (Maaori king movement) was founded in 1858 with the aim of unifying the Maaori people under one sovereign. Kiingi Tuuheitia, appointed in 2006, is the seventh successive sovereign since the inception of the Kiingitanga.

On the 2nd May 1858 Pootatau Te Wherowhero of Waikato agreed to become the king. To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the king movement, Kiingi Tuuheitia wishes to share the history of the movement by featuring a selection of Kiingitanga taonga from his private collection.

"I am pleased to share my most treasured taonga with all New Zealanders and visitors to our country. 160 years ago, the Auckland Domain was the home of my ancestor King Pootatau Te Wherowhero the first Maaori King. It is my desire that these taonga create a deeper understanding of the shared history and contribution of the Kiingitanga on Auckland," says Kiingi Tuuheitia.

Taonga on loan from the Kiingi Tuuheitia in this exhibition include: the Kiingitanga throne, leaving Tuurangawaewae Marae for the first time; a whale bone tokotoko (traditional Māori carved ceremonial walking stick); kaitaka (fine flax chief cloak with taaniko borders) and more.

Linnae Pohatu, Tumuaki - Māori and Pacific Projects & Development at Auckland Museum says, “Tamaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum is proud, in partnership with the Kiingitanga, to be able to assist and share the rich history of Maaori sovereignty in Aotearoa through this unique exhibition that includes taonga which have not been seen together by the public before. This exhibition commemorates the 160th anniversary of the Kiingitanga movement and we are honoured to be able to share it with Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland Museum.”

Te Paki o Matariki: 160 Years of Kiingitanga
FROM SUN 28 0CT, MĀORI COURT, Auckland War Memorial Museum
FREE WITH MUSEUM ENTRY

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