Kahungunu Ka Moe...Ka Puta

Mäku e ki atu,   ‘He aha te mea nui o Te Ao’ 

E ai ki a Kahungunu

He Tangata! He Tangata! He Tangata!

The original concept for this exhibition was developed by the National Library with Ngäti Kahungunu kaumatua, the late Tohara Mohi back in 1998, whilst he was researching the kawa of Kahungunu at the Turnbull Library. The Carnell Collection uncovered, comprised of some 260 photographs of Kahungunu tipuna, of which only 20 were identified. Mounting a mini display of Carnell images at Mihiroa Marae, was a first step towards our identifying of our history and ourselves.

‘Nö hou öu Tipuna pea?’

There was an advance of Ngäti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. in 2000, to spearhead wänanga in their strategic plan for the Iwi (tribe). Through four representative researchers, of the three traditional areas of Kahungunu, Pita Robinson of Te Wairoa, Ngätai Huata, and Te Koha Tareha of Heretaunga and Francis Reiri-Smith of Te Wairarapa; emerged the exhibition,

Kahungunu ka moe … ka puta …

Ka moe … to sleep to marry, ka puta… to be born – celebrated Kahungunu history from their eponymous ancestor to the present day. The Samuel Carnell archive of photographic portraits of Ngäti Kahungunu ancestors (1860 – 1910) is one of the most significant Collections in the Alexander Turnbull Library. Whakapapa is the exhibition’s key element that gives a direct and relevant link from individuals in the portraits to the viewer.

The exhibition will exhibit the images of selected tipuna images, their genealogy, and their history within a cocoon of multi arts disciplinary, including a lecture series. The exhibition has attracted record-breaking crowds and it is intended that many people will attend the exhibitions as it moves from place to place.

The acquired Lindauer paintings of Kahungunu kuia, Hinepare, and Ngähui Ngärangi-taka-i-waho will assist in the overall feel and structure of the exhibition, which has ‘leanings towards a matriarchal, female, fibre, textured organic look and feel’. Intentions to tour the exhibition through the Kahungunu Tribal area have included Te Wairarapa and Te Wairoa and plans are now underway for whanau in Tamaki Makaurau to host the exhibition.

The partnership between Ngäti Kahungunu Iwi Inc, Te Puna Mätauranga o Aotearoa (National Library of NZ), and Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust  (HBCT), is dedicated to making the collection, and text, accessible to Ngäti Kahungunu, other

Tribes, the people of New Zealand, and the rest of the world. Further advances have been made in the care and preservation of the oral literature, arts, culture, and image history of Ngäti Kahungunu.

Preparations are taking place for the Kahungunu Ka Moe...Ka Puta Exhibition to feature in Tamaki Makaurau in the coming months. Watch this space.

We acknowledge the mahi of Ngatai Huata in preparing this information for the iwi.