Rotorua opens roving Kupe exhibition
08 Apr 2009
Kupe was one of Polynesia’s most famous explorers and now an exhibition celebrating his life is on the move itself - from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington to the central North Island town of Rotorua.
It’s the first time this historically and culturally significant exhibition called Kupe Sites has been shown outside of the traditional museum setting. It opens in Rotorua at Te Puia tomorrow (9 April).
New Zealand discovery
Kupe is regarded by many Māori iwi (tribes) as one of the ancestors who discovered New Zealand, and the exhibition explores the stories of landmarks and place names including Aotearoa, the Māori name for New Zealand which loosely means ‘land of the long white cloud’.
One legend tells the story of Kupe setting out from his homeland Hawaiki in pursuit of a giant octopus - Te Wheke-a-Muturangi. Another recounts how Kupe, in love with his nephew’s wife, took her husband fishing, left him out at sea to drown, then fled from the family’s vengeance.
Māori genealogy
Kupe and his stories are of immense importance to the many Māori tribes who trace their whakapapa (genealogy) back through him.
While the stories vary, they all celebrate a remarkable voyager and explorer who settled a new land and charted a route through the Pacific for later navigators to follow.
Kupe Sites presents these stories through photographs of places and video recordings of kuia and kaumātua (elders) from four regions that have strong links to Kupe - Northland, Wairarapa, Wellington, and the top of the South Island.
Te Puia gallery extension
To complement the Kupe Sites exhibition, the Te Puia gallery has developed a new section covering the arrival of the Te Arawa waka (canoe) and the subsequent journey of Ngatoroirangi, the tohunga or spiritual expert who was aboard.
The tradition of Ngatoroirangi maps the geothermal system between Whakaari (White Island) and the volcanic mountains of the North Island’s central plateau, particularly Mount Tongariro.
The gallery has also developed a memorial space or wahi maumahara with images of the Whakarewarewa valley’s world famous guides, and celebrating Te Puia’s living legacy and relationship to the land.
Te Puia chief executive Te Taru White said the visiting Te Papa exhibition provided Te Puia with a unique opportunity to redevelop its acknowledgement of the rich history of the region and the significance of the people of the Whakarewarewa valley.
Background: Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
The Whakarewarewa thermal village is one of Rotorua’s key tourist attractions where visitors are able to gain first hand experience of the way of life of the people of Tuhourangi - Ngati Wahiao (a Māori family tribe) who have lived in the village for more than 200 years.
As well as sharing history, legends, traditions and culture, experienced guides show how the area’s geothermal activity is used in everyday life with hot springs and steam vents used for cooking and natural mineral waters providing communal bathing areas.
Visitors can hear Māori residents conversing in their native tongue, watch traditional weaving, listen to Māori music, learn action songs and haka, share a hangi meal and see a cultural performance. Guided walks through the thermal valley to see famous geysers like Pohutu and Prince of Wales Feathers is also part of the unique experience.
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