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Te Aho Mutunga Kore is our textile and fibre knowledge exchange centre for Māori and Pasifika communities, launched in 2023 with the generous support of Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. On this page, find out more about the kaupapa of this work, and follow the journey as the mahi progresses.
Te Aho Mutunga Kore translates literally to the eternal thread. This sentiment is befitting of this important kaupapa, intended to become a permanent centre at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. It will nurture creativity, knowledge sharing and knowledge creation by decentering the Museum and handing agency back to Māori and Pasifika communities.
Te Aho Mutunga Kore will ensure sustained engagement with textile and fibre collections held by the Museum, to strengthen the ties (aho) between community and their material culture heritage, creating a safe pathway for taonga tuku iho (knowledge transmission).
"Kotahi te kōhao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro mā, te miro pango, te miro whero"
-Tāwhio, Tūkaroto Matutaera Pōtatau Te Wherewhero
Through the eye of the needle pass the white threads, the black threads and the red threads. Looking to the past as you progress, hold firmly to your love, law and your faith.
Te Aho Mutunga Kore is starting with five projects carried out by Māori and Pasifika community groups. Each group will be given access to the fibre and textile taonga they are interested in, within the collection at Tāmaki Paenga Hira. They will each decide what their own project will entail and achieve, within the kaupapa of knowledge exchange relating to fibre and textiles collections.
Following are the 10 community groups who are currently involved. We’ll be sharing updates from these groups as they go.
Photo taken from the Kiribati Arts and Weavers Community visit in June.
PAST EVENT
Te Aho Mutunga Kore have partnered with Britomart to showcase our Māori and Pasifika people and taonga, in an outdoor exhibition at the Britomart Pavilions.
Click through to view the full range of photographs taken for the exhibition, and learn about the people and taonga they feature.
Every gift to Te Aho Mutunga Kore supports a space for sharing wisdom, exchanging stories, and nurturing treasured skills. Help to ensure the continuity of Māori and Pasifika textile traditions with your donation today.
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This kaupapa is made possible with the significant and generous support of Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage