Unearthing the Māori History of Te Tau Ihu

  • Date: 8 February
  • Time:

    12.15pm–1.00pm

  • Cost:

    Free

  • Location:

    Te Wehenga and Malaga Pasifika Rooms, Ground Floor, National Library

Historians Hilary and John Mitchell have led a resurgence in scholarship revealing the forgotten Māori history of Te Tau Ihu (Nelson-Marlborough), and illuminating ‘the very active roles Māori played in the new society born of European colonisation.’

Hilary and John Mitchell go into their methodsHilary and John Mitchell go into their methods.

In this presentation they talked about the background to their research, including the significance of Coates’s Māori portraits held in collections here and overseas.

Hilary and John Mitchell with exhibition curator Paul DiamondHilary and John Mitchell with exhibition curator Paul Diamond.

The speakers

Hilary and John Mitchell are the authors of the award-winning three volume work Te tau ihu o te waka: a history of Māori of Nelson and Marlborough, and founders of Mitchell Research consultancy.

Part of the Turnbull Gallery exhibition, Head and shoulders: Portraits of Māori by Isaac Coates.