Te Papa launches book on war taonga and their significance to New Zealand history

TE POU KŌRERO - NGĀHURU

In March, Te Papa launched and hosted iwi representatives for the book launch of ‘Te Ata o Tū, The Shadow of Tūmatauenga: The New Zealand Wars Collections of Te Papa.’

The book was developed in partnership with iwi, ‘apū, and descendants, and explores over 500 powerful taonga from Te Papa’s collections related to our complex colonial history.

Hundreds gathered for the launch, held in Wellington. It attracted people from all walks of life, from iwi leaders to cultural enthusiasts, and marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s acknowledgement and preservation of its tumultuous past.

Taia’a, swords, flags, and paintings of tīpuna - taonga often kept tucked away in Te Papa archives - have been brought back into te ao mārama - the world of light - in a new book outlining the role each taonga played in the New Zealand Land Wars.

Part of the hundreds that gathered were Laura and Tupito Maruera, who were invited to be part of the launch and to represent Ngāti Ruanui.

The book is a robust account of the taonga involved in and around the Land Wars of 1845 to 1872.

There are a range of different perspectives that the book explores through various accounts and allows for deep reflection on Aotearoa’s history.

With the support of Te Papa Foundation’s UK Circle and a donation from Crown Relocations, every high school in Aotearoa New Zealand will receive a copy, in the hope of inspiring our young people to learn more about the enduring legacy of the New Zealand Wars.

The book is now highly sought after at bookstores nationwide, with some showing up to a six-week wait.