9 Dec 2011

Taranaki expo has plenty of positive buy-in from iwi

7:11 am on 9 December 2011

Ngati Mutunga Runanga's general manager says although not every piece of history is displayed at the iwi's tribal exhibition, most descendants were happy to allow their taonga to go on display.

Mutunga: Our Legacy, Our Challenge, Our Future was opened at Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth at the end of last month.

It is the first ever tribal exhibition Ngati Mutunga has produced.

The exhibition tells the story of a northern Taranaki people who survived through the land wars of the 19th century, land confiscation and the mass migration of descendants to Wellington, the Chatham Islands and the top of the South Island.

Hemi Sundgren says there are always going to be some whanau who are reluctant to share their stories and taonga, but most of his iwi are happy with the display and it has created a lot of interest.

He says it was important to maintain a real balance.

Mr Sundgren says there are some stories that aren't told within the exhibition that are probably better kept with certain families.

He says generally the display has had a positive response, evident by the number of people who attended the official opening.

The exhibition runs until 19 March.