Iwi Archivist Symposium, Te Pūranga
Vicki-Anne Heikell, Field Conservator, shares the kaupapa of the inaugural Iwi Archivist Symposium, Te Pūranga and highlights from the symposium.
Kaupapa of Te Pūranga
An inaugural Iwi Archivist Symposium, Te Pūranga, was held at the National Library Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa in Wellington last month. Kaimahi Māori who are either working for their iwi organisations or their hapū on the care of their taonga including archives, oral histories, wāhi tupuna, taonga tuku iho joined us.
Back row: Stephanie Tibble, Melissa Paul, Chris Dixon, Felicia Wilson, Peter Waihape
Middle: Adam Taylor, Clare Butler (Library), Sara Picard (Library), Ahi Marino-Dawson (Te Papa), El Maadi Te Aho, Nubian Marino, Aroha Petera, Kiri-Roimata-Hauiti, Heleena Kaire, Miriama Gemmell, Hinemaia Dewes, Michelle Wano.
Front: Katrina Tamaira (Library), Dr Annemaire Gillies, Te Mihinga Tuterangiwhiu, Ria Waikerepuru, Ani Sharland, Kuini Moehau Reedy
Part of the kaupapa of Te Pūranga was to introduce the kaimahi to the Te Ara Taonga culture and heritage agencies, the mahi we do and the ways we can support them with their mahi. The kaimahi who attended work across all forms of collections and taonga – built heritage, wāhi tapu, objects, archives and taonga tuku iho. To ensure all participants benefitted from their week, it was important for the inter-agency collaboration to meet the varied needs of the attendees and touch on aspects across all types of collection care and management.
Te Ara Taonga culture and heritage agencies are — Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Archives New Zealand, National Library of New Zealand, Te Papa, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Te Ara Taonga is the framework which informs how the culture and heritage agencies work with and support iwi to meet their aspirations.
The symposium was supported by the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme administered by Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Tūhonohono
Whakawhānaungatanga was at the heart of Te Pūranga with the hope that participants would form relationships that will become a rōpū tautoko and connected with the kaimahi from each of the heritage organisations.
The week was richer for the openness and engagement of Te Pūranga participants – who shared their own experiences, questioned institutional practices and committed to discussion, even long after the day sessions had ended, continuing the kōrero over kai in the evenings at their accommodation.
The symposium was also privileged to have Kōkā Kuini Moehau Reedy, composer, kapa haka exponent, writer and te reo Māori expert, accompany her mokopuna, Hinemaia Dewes. Her presence underlined the importance of the exchange of whakaarō and mātauranga across the generations.
Kōkā Kuini Moehau Reedy
Hinemaia Dewes
Mātauranga whakaakoranga
The week-long programme included discussion and practical elements of digitisation, archival practices, an overview of oral history and training, the Library’s Ngā Tanga Reo Books in Māori project and back of house tour of collections at Te Papa.
Kaimahi also had the opportunity to speed date with Te Ara Taonga mātanga and DIA Community advisors to find out what funding is available and to discuss their projects that might be eligible for funding.
A highlight was a visit to Matangireia, led by Ellen Anderson, Kaiwhakahaere Tautiaki Taonga and Kaupapa, Pouhere Taonga. Matangireia, the former Māori Select Committee Room was opened in 1922 and has recently been conserved. The New Zealand Parliament worked with Heritage New Zealand and in consultation with tangata whenua to restore, enhance, and conserve the unique design elements of this room. Have a look at this YouTube video if you would like to learn more about 100 years of Matangireia.
Photograph of the Native Affairs Committee in the Maori Affairs Committee Room, Parliament, Wellington. Ref: PAColl-8205. Alexander Turnbull Library.
Dennis Ngawhare, Pou Rarangi Kōrero at Heritage New Zealand guided participants around Wellington CBD Illuminating the history of mana whenua hidden beneath the urban landscapes. These include Woodward and Bowen Streets previously the site of Kumutoto Kainga, home of Rangatira, Wi Tako Ngatata and Te Atiawa.
Courses of the Wellington streams, plates 3 and 4, Compiled by Johannes C. Andersen, ca.1940] Ref: MapColl-832.4799cdc/A/ca.1940/Acc.3783-84. Alexander Turnbull Library.
Portrait of Wiremu Tako Ngatata. Ref: PA2-0262. Alexander Turnbull Library.
The Library’s Research Librarian Māori, Katrina Tamaira delivered practical sessions on archival practice from defining the kaupapa or purpose of the archive, through to practical exercises on doing an inventory — yes spreadsheets are your friend!
Caring for and managing collections is a privilege and a responsibility. A kete of well-planned spreadsheets can definitely make your archiving life easier, but they also bring voices and stories to the surface while still protecting mātauranga.
— Katrina Tamaira
Katrina Tamaira
Awhi mai awhi atu
It was a pleasure to introduce kaimahi Māori to a range of experiences during the symposium. We enjoyed sharing our processes and approaches and hope the attendees can apply, adapt and use what they learnt in their workplaces. We also learned a lot by listening to the experience of our participants and discussing our collective challenges.
Future wānanga
Te Pūranga participant feedback will inform future wānanga. It is hoped that cross-agency collaboration will ensure the development of further programmes that support kaimahi in the care, preservation and management of taonga.
Ngā mihi to all Te Ara Taonga agencies for their contributions to this successful symposium
More information about conservation
Caring for collections guides — National Library
Māori built heritage — Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand
Conservation guidelines — Te Papa
Conservation of the He Tohu documents — Archives New Zealand
Vicki-Anne Heikell | Field Conservator at the Department of Internal Affairs - Waatea News: Māori Radio Station — Waatea News