Mō Tātou: Ngāi Tahu Whānui exhibition

Mō Tātou: Ngāi Tahu Whānui exhibition began at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa on the 8th July, 2006. After eighteen months in development, it was officially opened at a dramatic dawn ceremony. Up to 1,500 Ngai Tahu representatives and whanau travelled from all over New Zealand to be welcomed onto Te Papa's marae.

Ngāi Tahu means 'people of Tahu' after the founder, Tahu Potiki. Around ten generations ago, his descendants migrated from the North Island of New Zealand to the South Island. Through intermarriage and conquest, these original migrants merged with the resident Waitaha and Kāti Māmoe tribes, to form Ngāi Tahu Whānui as it is today.

Embedded in the land, Ngāi Tahu Whānui have survived and progressed from near-decimation to tribal autonomy and self-reliance. 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', are the organising principles for this exhibition and reflect Ngāi Tahu's contemporary understanding of past and future. They are:

• Toitū te iwi- Culture
• Toitū te rangatiratanga- Tenacity
• Toitū te aō tūroa- Sustainability
• Toitū te pae tawhiti- Innovation

From the creation story to the most important taonga (treasures), to a representation on the world art stage, Mō Tātou celebrates the distinct and dynamic culture of the South Island's Ngāi Tahu people.

Related sites:

• Sample images from the exhibition at the Te Papa website.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Information from Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa